multiracial

adjective

mul·​ti·​ra·​cial ˌməl-tē-ˈrā-shəl How to pronounce multiracial (audio)
-ˌtī-
1
: composed of, involving, or representing various races (see race entry 1 sense 1a)
a multiracial society
multiracial families
"This is real music by real musicians," exclaimed Prince in the midst of "Controversy," one of roughly two dozen songs he performed before an adoring multiracial, all-ages, pansexual, sold-out crowd.Ernest Hardy
2
: having parents or ancestors of different races
Junior high and high school, with their harsh social delineation, can be particularly tough. But multiracial teens who run the gantlet often emerge with a stronger sense of self.Lynette Clemetson
multiracialism noun

Examples of multiracial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But a small, steadfast, multiracial movement of citizens is testing the power of the environmental laws. Gaiutra Bahadur Keisha Scarville, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2024 Advances in civil rights, economic equality, health-care access, or environmental policy have often triggered reactionary codas; since at least the end of Reconstruction, momentum toward multiracial democracy has inflamed particularly vitriolic responses. Danielle Amir Jackson, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2024 Regarding race and ethnicity, 16% of the applicants were Black/African American, 13% were Hispanic/Latino, 14% were Asian, 5% were Middle Eastern/North African, 2.2% were Indigenous, and 1.2% were multiracial/multiethnic. Angelique Jackson, Variety, 25 Mar. 2024 But that fragile multiracial coalition — which for a period understood racial redress as a national good needed to secure and preserve our democracy — has been crushed by the same forces that have used racial polarization to crush these alliances in the past. Nikole Hannah-Jones, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024 Japan has a growing number of people with multiracial and multicultural backgrounds, as more people marry foreigners and the country accepts foreign workers to make up for its rapidly aging and declining population. Staff and Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 26 Jan. 2024 Bhargava said the effort will work to bring people together who disagree on many substantial issues but who have a common belief that the nation is best served by strengthening its multiracial democracy. Alex Daniels Of The Chronicle Of Philanthropy, Chronicle Of Philanthropy, Quartz, 7 Mar. 2024 Related Articles The GOP is morphing into a multiracial, populist party. Craig Miller, Orange County Register, 14 Feb. 2024 Related Articles Remembering the great Frederick Douglass The GOP is morphing into a multiracial, populist party. John Stossel, Orange County Register, 14 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'multiracial.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1897, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of multiracial was in 1897

Dictionary Entries Near multiracial

Cite this Entry

“Multiracial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/multiracial. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

multiracial

adjective
mul·​ti·​ra·​cial ˌməl-ti-ˈrā-shəl How to pronounce multiracial (audio)
-ˌtī-
: composed of, relating to, or representing various races
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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