What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
racial
Example
The company is committed to promoting racial diversity in the workplace. [racial: adjective]
Example
There are significant racial differences in the prevalence of certain diseases. [racial: adjective]
racist
Example
He was accused of making racist comments during the meeting. [racist: adjective]
Example
She refused to rent the apartment to them because of their race, which is a clear example of racism. [racism: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Racial is a more common word than racist in everyday language, as it is a neutral term that can be used in a variety of contexts. Racist is a more specific and negative term that is only used to describe harmful attitudes or behaviors towards people of a particular race.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between racial and racist?
Both racial and racist can be used in formal and informal contexts, but racist is generally considered more informal due to its negative connotations.
