mixed-race

American  

[mikst-reys] / ˈmɪkstˈreɪs /

adjective

Sometimes Disparaging and Offensive.

1. denoting or relating to a person whose parents belong to different racial or ethnic groups.

   mixed-race Brazilians.

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mixed-race British  

adjective

1. relating to or characteristic of people of different ethnic origins

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Sensitive Note

Despite the stigma sometimes associated with a mixed-race heritage and the fact that some mixed-race people identify with just one ethnic group, the term itself is usually considered acceptable.

Usage

The term mixed-race may well cause offence. The people so labelled might object to being thought of as a mixture, and identify with one ethnic group. Possible alternatives when referring specifically to ethic origins are of mixed ethnicity and of mixed ethnic origin

Etymology

Origin of mixed-race

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

Americans learned that his melting-pot family history included French, Italian, Spanish and mixed-race Louisiana Creole roots.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 21, 2026

Their varied ranks included people of European, Indigenous and mixed-race origins.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 23, 2026

Mary Edmonia Lewis, a mixed-race sculptor who attended Oberlin College, learned her trade in Boston, then moved to Rome.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 17, 2026

My husband is a mixed-race man and he's had some difficult experiences.

From BBC • Sep. 3, 2025

She appeared to understand him so well she’d like to adopt him and have his mixed-race family move right in.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver