# racial

/ˈɹeɪʃəɫ/ (US) · /ɹˈeɪʃəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/racial
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. relating to race

adjective · CEFR B2

relating to a person's race or the differences between human groups.

For teachers: relating to or characteristic of a human race or the relations between different races.

- The city is working hard to improve racial harmony among its diverse residents.
- The researchers examined the racial composition of the neighborhood to understand how historical housing policies had influenced modern demographics.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun it modifies.

### 2. gaming ability

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

in video games, a special power or skill that a character has because of their race.

For teachers: a specific trait, ability, or bonus granted to a character based on their chosen fantasy race within a game system.

- My character has a racial that lets me see in the dark.
- The latest patch nerfed the human racial, making it less effective in high-level competitive play.

Teaching tip: This is highly specific to gaming communities and would not be understood in a general social context.

## Examples

- The city is working to improve racial equality in schools.
- The census collects racial data to ensure that government resources are distributed fairly among all communities.
- Scholars argue that racial identity is a social construct rather than a purely biological one, shaped by historical power dynamics and cultural perceptions over several centuries.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.