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interracial

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Etymology and origin of the English word interracial

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1880 A. Winchell, Preadamites
Ultimate origins
English inter-Middle French race
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
English racial
English interracial

Pronunciation

  • /ˌɪntəˈɹeɪʃəl/[1]

Etymology

It is formed from English inter- (“between”) + racial (“of race”).[2][3][4][5] Merriam-Webster also allows a formation from race, and records a variant interrace.[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

Existing between or involving different races: 1880 in the OED, in A. Winchell's Preadamites,[2] 1883 in Etymonline,[3] and 1888 in Merriam-Webster.[6] Dictionary.com dates it 1885–90.[5]

Semantic evolution

Its first meaning was general, of anything between racial or ethnic groups;[2] Merriam-Webster also has a sense "designed for members of different races", as in housing.[6] Since 1890 it has been used of marriages and relationships between people of different racial or ethnic backgrounds,[2] and the adverb interracially is recorded from the mid 20th century.[4]

Timeline

  • 1880 – existing between different races.[2]
  • 1883 – existing or taking place between races.[3]
  • 1890 – of a marriage or relationship between people of different races.[2]
  • mid 20th century – interracially.[4]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Existing between or involving two or more races or ethnic groups: interracial tensions.[6][7][2]
  2. Of a marriage or relationship: between people of different racial or ethnic backgrounds.[2]
  3. Relating to or meant for members of different races: interracial schools.[6]

Word family

  • interracially
  • interracialism

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Oxford English Dictionary Online (accessed March 2026), Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
  5. ^ a b Dictionary.com Unabridged (2016), based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, New York: Random House
  6. ^ a b c d e Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  7. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins
Cite this entry

“Interracial.” Etymologically, 31 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/interracial. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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