racist
racist Lexical Profile
racist Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Characterized by, showing, or steming from prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against people on the basis of their race or ethnicity.
"The organization implemented strict policies to eliminate racist practices in the workplace."
• noun
A person who believes that a particular race is superior to another or who engages in racial prejudice and discrimination.
"The documentary examined how civil rights leaders peacefully confronted racists during the 1960s."
Word Nuance & Usage
'Racist' carries strong pejorative weight and describes prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race, whereas 'racial' is a neutral adjective meaning simply 'relating to race' (e.g., 'racial demographics' vs. 'racist remarks').
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the early 20th century from the noun 'race' plus the suffix '-ist', influenced by French 'raciste', gradually replacing the earlier English term 'racialist'.