racial

American  

[rey-shuhl] / ˈreɪ ʃəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to the social construct of race.

   racial diversity;

   racial stereotypes.

2. (no longer in technical use) of, relating to, or characteristic of one race or the races of humankind.

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racial British  

/ ˈreɪʃəl /

adjective

1. denoting or relating to the division of the human species into races on grounds of physical characteristics

2. characteristic of any such group

3. relating to or arising from differences between the races

   racial harmony

4. of or relating to a subspecies

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Other Word Forms

• antiracial adjective
• nonracial adjective
• racially adverb

Etymology

Origin of racial

First recorded in 1860–65; race ² + -ial

Explanation

Something racial is related to the characteristics people have because of their genetic or ethnic origins. Racial differences sometimes lead to racial tension. Members of the same racial group share a very old genetic connection — their ancestors lived in the same part of the world, and they're distantly related. When people talk about "racial diversity," they mean that many of these groups are represented, for example, in a single city. The noun race is at the heart of the adjective racial, and it comes from Old French, with an Italian root word, razza, "race, breed, lineage, or family."

Example Sentences

While non-Hispanic white women saw a small increase in births last year, births by women of other racial and ethnic groups declined slightly.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

Indeed, any stated purposes appear unrelated to the Civil Rights Act’s aims of combating racial discrimination.

From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026

Among racial and ethnic groups, 62% of Latino voters, 46% of Black voters and 43% of Asian or Pacific Islander voters said they are somewhat or very concerned.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

Earlier this month, South Africa summoned the new US ambassador Brent Bozell to explain his "undiplomatic remarks" about Pretoria's racial policies and court decisions.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

In an effort to demonstrate their commitment to a genuinely multiracial, working-class movement against white elites, the Populists made strides toward racial integration, a symbol of their commitment to class-based unity.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander