racemic

R1A1C3E1M3I1C3
/ɹəˈsiːmɪk/

adjective

Containing equal amounts of dextrorotatory (+) and levorotatory (−) stereoisomers and therefore not optically active.

Opposite
enantiopurescalemic
OriginFrench racémique ← Latin racēmus →
UncommonScrabble 13
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Meanings

adjectiveracemic (not comparable)
  1. not comparablechemistryContaining equal amounts of dextrorotatory (+) and levorotatory (−) stereoisomers and therefore not optically active.

    Antonyms: enantiopure, scalemic

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveContaining equal amounts of dextrorotatory (+) and levorotatory (−) stereoisomers and therefore not optically active.

Opposite
enantiopurescalemic

Origin

  1. Latinracēmus“cluster or bunch of grapes”
  2. Frenchracémique
  3. Englishracemic

From French racémique, from Latin racēmus (“cluster or bunch of grapes”) + -ique or from raceme + -ic. The name came from racemic acid, which was isolated from grapes.

More words from French, Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan racèmic
  • racèmiccontaining equal amounts of dextrorotatory and levorotatory stereoisomers
Dutch racemisch
  • racemischcontaining equal amounts of dextrorotatory and levorotatory stereoisomers
Finnish raseeminen
  • raseeminencontaining equal amounts of dextrorotatory and levorotatory stereoisomers
French racémique
  • racémiquecontaining equal amounts of dextrorotatory and levorotatory stereoisomers
German razemisch
  • razemischcontaining equal amounts of dextrorotatory and levorotatory stereoisomers
Italian racemico
  • racemicocontaining equal amounts of dextrorotatory and levorotatory stereoisomers
Portuguese racémico
  • racémicocontaining equal amounts of dextrorotatory and levorotatory stereoisomers
Romanian racemic
  • racemiccontaining equal amounts of dextrorotatory and levorotatory stereoisomers
Spanish racémico
  • racémicocontaining equal amounts of dextrorotatory and levorotatory stereoisomers

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with racemic

academicsystemicepidemicendemicischemicglycemicepistemicphonemicanemicpolemicischaemicdemicleukemicnonacademicuremicanthemicemictotemicThelemicsemicmultisystemicalchemicleukaemicpostischemic
All rhymes →

Anagrams

ceramic
Cite this entry
APA

racemic. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/racemic

MLA

“racemic.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/racemic. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “racemic,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/racemic.

Source: racemic on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.