intersectional

Syllables: in·ter·sec·tion·alUS/ˌɪn.təɹˈsɛk.ʃə.nl̩/

intersectional adjective: of or pertaining to an intersection, especially of multiple forms of discrimination (for example, the intersection of misogyny and racism which affects black women specifically).

Adjective (1)

intersectional (comparative more intersectional, superlative most intersectional)

Of or pertaining to an intersection, especially of multiple forms of discrimination (for example, the intersection of misogyny and racism which affects black women specifically).
- Intersectional discrimination is particularly difficult to identify in contexts where economic, cultural, or social forces quietly shape the background such that women are placed in positions where they are affected by some other system of [discrimination].2009, Yvonne Wesley, Black Women's Health: Challenges and Opportunities
- The second type consists of intersectional discrimination where the multiple discrimination cannot usefully or effectively be broken down into its component parts. Thus a young black woman may suffer discrimination in a way that an older black woman does not.2013, Malcolm Sargeant, Discrimination and the Law, Routledge, →ISBN
Of or relating to intersectionalism or intersectionality.
- Hunter has also been serving as coordinator for Jewish life and intersectional programming at the College of Wooster.2019 February 27, Jeremy Pelzer, “Green Party presidential hopeful says he was fired as rabbi because of Israel criticism”, in cleveland.com, archived from the original on 16 Apr 2019
Encompassing or concerned with multiple different groups or the forms of discrimination they face (for example, inclusive of women of all races and people of color of all genders).
- “The revolution will be intersectional or it won't be my revolution” (or the more blunt and succinct “The revolution will be intersectional or it will be bullshit”) warn us of the dangers of single-issue/single-marginalization identity.2017, Aaron Hess, Amber Davisson, Theorizing Digital Rhetoric, Routledge, →ISBN
- The next Age of the Goddess will not allow for spaces that are exclusionary of trans and nonbinary people, both because it will be intersectional and political, and because it will demand liberation for all.2018, Trevor Greenfield, Seven Ages of the Goddess, John Hunt Publishing, →ISBN

Adjective (2)

intersectional (comparative more intersectional, superlative most intersectional)

Existing or occurring between sections or groups.
- I have often thought of the many objections to "Civil War", "War between the States." As it was a war between the Northern and Southern sections of the United States, I have ventured to suggest "Intersectional War" as an appropriate name1894 April 27, William H. Stewart, “Best name for the war”, in The Confederate Veteran, page 140

Forms of intersectional

comparative	more intersectional
superlative	most intersectional

Origin of intersectional

From intersection + -al.

From inter- + sectional.

Words formed from intersectional

Questions about intersectional

What does intersectional mean?: Intersectional means of or pertaining to an intersection, especially of multiple forms of discrimination (for example, the intersection of misogyny and racism which affects black women specifically).
What part of speech is intersectional?: Intersectional is an adjective.
How do you pronounce intersectional?: Intersectional is pronounced /ˌɪn.təɹˈsɛk.ʃə.nl̩/ (US).

Words near intersectional in the dictionary

Adapted from Wiktionary: intersectional (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

Last updated: 2026-09-02

Pronunciation audio from Wikimedia Commons, each file under its own free license: LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-intersectional.wav.

Cite this entry: “intersectional.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/intersectional. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.