racial
RAY-shuhl
Racial (adjective) means relating to race or a particular racial group. Example: “The school teaches children to respect people of every racial background.”
adjective
1
Relating to race or a particular racial group.
"The school teaches children to respect people of every racial background."
"The report examined racial disparities in healthcare access."
"The city has a long history of racial tension."
How to use racial
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes anything to do with race — differences, tension, discrimination, and so on.
Common pairings
racial equality
racial discrimination
racial tension
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Word forms
- Plural
- racials
- Comparative
- more racial
- Superlative
- most racial
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The school teaches children to respect people of every _____ background.
Etymology
Formed from "race" plus the adjective suffix "-ial."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
nonracial
Related words
Rhymes for racial
See all rhymes for racial →Frequently asked questions
What does “racial” mean?
The word “racial” means relating to race or a particular racial group. In plain terms, describes anything to do with race — differences, tension, discrimination, and so on.
How do you pronounce “racial”?
“Racial” is pronounced RAY-shuhl (/ˈɹeɪʃəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “racial” in a sentence?
Here is “racial” used in a sentence: “The report examined racial disparities in healthcare access.”
What part of speech is “racial”?
“Racial” is an adjective.
Is “racial” a common word?
“Racial” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between 'racial' and 'racist'?
'Racial' is a neutral adjective meaning relating to race or a racial group, as in 'racial diversity' or 'racial identity.' 'Racist' describes prejudice, discrimination, or hostility based on race, so the two words are not interchangeable.
What is the difference between 'racial' and 'ethnic'?
'Racial' relates to race, often defined by broad physical characteristics, while 'ethnic' relates to ethnicity, which is based on shared culture, language, ancestry, or nationality. A person's racial and ethnic identities can overlap but are not the same thing.
Is 'racial' an offensive word?
'Racial' itself is a neutral, descriptive term and is not offensive; it appears in respectful contexts such as 'racial harmony' and 'racial heritage.' Any offence usually comes from the word paired with it, as in 'racial slur,' rather than from 'racial' alone.
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