'interracial' originates from a combination of Latin and Romance roots: the Latin prefix 'inter' (meaning 'between') combined with 'racial', which ultimately comes from French 'race' (Italian 'razza'), where 'race' referred to 'lineage' or 'group'.

'interracial' appears in English in the early 20th century, often first written as the hyphenated form 'inter-racial', formed by combining Latin 'inter-' and the adjective 'racial' derived from French 'race'.

Initially it meant simply 'between races' (often used for relationships or marriages); over time it broadened to describe any relation, interaction, or mixture involving different races (e.g., communities, organizations, relationships).