Etymologically
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racist

Etymology and origin of the English word racist

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1924
Ultimate origins
Old Norse (rás)English (-ist)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
English race
English racist

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈɹeɪ.sɪst/[1]

Etymology

It is from English race + -ist,[2][3][4] probably after French raciste.[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

A person who believes in or practises racism: 1924 in MWU, 1932 in the OED and Etymonline.[5][4][2] As an adjective it is from 1938.[2][4]

Semantic evolution

Racism was in use by 1928, at first in the context of fascist theories, and common from 1936.[2] Racist and racism replaced the earlier racialism (1882) and racialist (1910), which were often used in British and South African contexts.[2] Before them, race hatred (from 1852) and race prejudice (from 1867) were used.[2]

Timeline

  • 1882 – racialism.[2]
  • 1924 – first known use.[5]
  • 1928 – racism.[2]
  • 1932 – noun, in the OED.[4]
  • 1938 – adjective.[2][4]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A person who believes that some races are better than others, or who treats people of other races unfairly.

Adjective

  1. Relating to, showing or based on racism.

Word family

  • antiracist
  • race
  • racism
  • racial
  • racialist

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b c d e Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
Cite this entry

“Racist.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/racist. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·