Nonracist

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. A philosophy that champions equality among all races and actively opposes discrimination based on racial identity
2. Opposing any form of discrimination or prejudice based on race and promoting fair treatment for all racial groups
3. Reflects attitudes or beliefs that reject racial bias and endorse equality regardless of ethnic background

Etymology: "Nonracist" is a plain formation: the prefix "non-" attached to "racist," with the hyphen dropped over time. The prefix comes from Latin "non," meaning "not," and has been productive in English since the Middle Ages, which is why it attaches so readily to adjectives and nouns of many kinds. The base word carries most of the weight. "Racist" is the older form and developed from "race" in the sense of a group of people sharing ancestry or characteristics, with the suffix "-ist" marking a person who holds or practises a particular belief. Pairing "non-" with it creates an adjective for someone or something that rejects racial prejudice. Because the compound describes a stance rather than a physical object, its meaning depends on how the base word has been understood, which has shifted considerably since the twentieth century.

Synonyms: inclusive, fair, tolerant, egalitarian, unprejudiced

Antonyms: racist, discriminatory, biased, prejudiced, intolerant