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
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
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Word History
First Known Use
1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing segregation
Dictionary Entries Near segregation
Cite this Entry
“Segregation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/segregation. Accessed 4 Dec. 2024.
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
More from Merriam-Webster on segregation
Nglish: Translation of segregation for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of segregation for Arabic Speakers
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