segregation

noun

seg·​re·​ga·​tion ˌse-gri-ˈgā-shən 

1

: the act or process of segregating : the state of being segregated

2

a

: the separation or isolation of a race, class, or ethnic group by enforced or voluntary residence in a restricted area, by barriers to social intercourse, by separate educational facilities, or by other discriminatory means

b

: the separation for special treatment or observation of individuals or items from a larger group

segregation of gifted children into accelerated classes

3

: the separation of allelic genes that occurs typically during meiosis

Synonyms

• aloneness
• insulation
• isolation
• privacy
• secludedness
• seclusion
• separateness
• sequestration
• solitariness
• solitude

Examples of segregation in a Sentence

They fought to end the segregation of public schools.

the segregation of men and women

Recent Examples on the Web

Cost segregation is about strategically breaking down a mobile home park’s individual components to depreciate the asset as quickly as possible. —Brian Spear, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024

The company identified material weaknesses in its internal controls over financial reporting due to a lack of qualified accounting personnel and insufficient segregation of duties. —Quartz Bot, Quartz, 20 Nov. 2024

In hours of public comment, members of the Planning and Land Use Management Committee heard from Angelenos who wanted to preserve single-family-home neighborhoods and those who wanted to open the areas up to more development to reduce economic and racial segregation. —Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2024

Han says that the femicide served as a jumping off point for some 4B supporters to call for more intense gender scrutiny in the name of protecting women from violence, like ID scanners to check gender markers in public restrooms, and more gender segregation at protests. —Quispe López, Them, 19 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing segregation

• anti-segregation
• law of segregation

Kids Definition

segregation

noun

seg·​re·​ga·​tion ˌseg-ri-ˈgā-shən 

1

: the act or process of segregating : the state of being segregated

2

: the separation or isolation of a race, class, or group (as by restriction to an area or by separate schools)

Medical Definition

segregation

noun

seg·​re·​ga·​tion ˌseg-ri-ˈgā-shən 

: the separation of allelic genes that occurs typically during meiosis

Legal Definition

segregation

noun

seg·​re·​ga·​tion ˌse-gri-ˈgā-shən 

1

: separation of individuals or groups and especially racial groups compare desegregation

— de facto segregation

: segregation of racial groups that arises as a result of economic, social, or other factors rather than by operation or enforcement of laws or other official state action

— de jure segregation

: segregation intended or mandated by law or otherwise intentionally arising from state action

Note: De jure segregation is illegal.

2

: separate confinement of prisoners within a penal institution