racial

[rey-shuhl]

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.

racial

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• racially adverb
• antiracial adjective
• nonracial adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of racial¹

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

Example Sentences

Roosevelt banned racial discrimination in defense work after Randolph threatened a March on Washington.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The change also shows that the department supports all marginalized racial and ethnic groups, not just African American students, the basis for the lawsuit, district leaders said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

All the justices — conservative and liberal — say drawing districts based on the race of the voters violates the Constitution and its ban on racial discrimination.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Galveston County, that said different racial groups cannot band together to bring voting rights complaints.

Read more on Salon

Collins, the attorney for Grubb, said this wasn’t a case motivated by racial animus.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal