What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
ethnic
Example
She is proud of her ethnic heritage and enjoys learning about her ancestors. [ethnic: adjective]
Example
The neighborhood has a diverse ethnic population, with people from all over the world. [ethnic: adjective]
racial
Example
The company is committed to promoting racial diversity and inclusivity in the workplace. [racial: adjective]
Example
The history of the country is marked by racial tensions and conflicts between different groups. [racial: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Racial is more commonly used than ethnic in everyday language, especially in discussions of social justice and equality. Ethnic is more commonly used in academic or cultural contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between ethnic and racial?
Both ethnic and racial can be used in formal and informal contexts, but ethnic may be perceived as more formal due to its association with academic or cultural contexts.
