Meaning & use

racist

adjective·Academic

Showing or based on the belief that some races are superior to others, or the prejudice and discrimination that results.

See it in a sentence

The comedian was widely criticized after making a racist joke during the broadcast.

The city passed new policies aimed at addressing racist housing practices from decades earlier.

A note on using this word

Racist can describe individual remarks and behavior or wider systems and policies that produce unequal treatment based on race.

Words with a similar meaning

bigoteddiscriminatory

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

tolerant

Another way to use it

2. noun

A person who holds or acts on racist beliefs.

He was fired after coworkers reported that he was a racist toward new hires.

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