racist
RAY-sihst
Racist (noun) means a person who believes in or practises racism. Example: “The club banned a known racist from attending its matches.”
noun
1
A person who believes in or practises racism.
"The club banned a known racist from attending its matches."
"She refused to work with a racist, so she reported him to her manager."
"He was exposed as a racist after the leaked messages surfaced."
adjective
1
Showing or based on racism.
"The school acted swiftly after a racist comment was made in class."
"The comedian was fired over a racist joke."
"They condemned the racist graffiti found on the school wall."
How to use racist
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes a person, comment, or action driven by racism.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
racist remark
racist behaviour
called a racist
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Word forms
- Plural
- racists
- Comparative
- more racist
- Superlative
- most racist
Fill the gap
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The club banned a known _____ from attending its matches.
Etymology
First recorded as a noun in 1932 and as an adjective in 1938, built from 'racism' plus the agent suffix '-ist,' paralleling the earlier French raciste.
Class of 1932
racist joined the language around 1932.
See the full Class of 1932 →
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for racist
See all rhymes for racist →Frequently asked questions
What does “racist” mean?
The word “racist” means a person who believes in or practises racism. In plain terms, describes a person, comment, or action driven by racism.
How do you pronounce “racist”?
“Racist” is pronounced RAY-sihst (/ˈɹeɪ.sɪst/ in IPA).
How do you use “racist” in a sentence?
Here is “racist” used in a sentence: “He was exposed as a racist after the leaked messages surfaced.”
What is another word for “racist”?
Words with a similar meaning to “racist” include rayciss and bigoted.
What part of speech is “racist”?
Depending on how it is used, “racist” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “racist” come from?
The word “racist” dates back to around 1932 and comes from French. First recorded as a noun in 1932 and as an adjective in 1938, built from 'racism' plus the agent suffix '-ist,' paralleling the earlier French raciste.
Is “racist” a common word?
“Racist” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “racist” have?
“Racist” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person who believes in or practises racism.
What is the difference between a racist and racism?
Racism is the belief or practice that one race is superior to another, or a system that treats people unequally by race. A racist is a person who holds that belief or acts on it. In short, racism is the idea or behaviour, while a racist is the individual behind it.
Is racist a noun or an adjective?
It can be both. As a noun it names a person, as in he is a racist. As an adjective it describes something driven by racism, as in a racist remark or racist policy. The meaning stays the same; only the grammatical role changes with how the word is used.
Is racist a strong word?
Yes. Racist is a serious and heavily negative term, and calling someone a racist is a grave accusation rather than a neutral description. Because it carries such weight, it is used carefully in fair discussion, usually to condemn attitudes or actions that judge or mistreat people on the basis of race.
What is the opposite of racist?
A common opposite is anti-racist, meaning a person who actively opposes racism and works against it. More broadly, someone described as fair-minded, tolerant, or egalitarian treats people equally regardless of race. Where a racist judges by race, these terms describe an active commitment to equality and respect.
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