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
Medgar served as the field secretary for the Mississippi branch of the NAACP while his wife worked with him to protest segregation, lynching, and more within the state of Mississippi.
—
Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 27 Sep. 2024
The ride had become a symbol of the fight against segregation not only in southern bus terminals but everywhere.
—Katie Hafner, Scientific American, 26 Sep. 2024
Amendments, the Court barely lifted a finger to end segregation and disenfranchisement on the basis of race—not that Congress or the executive branch did much, either.
—Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2024
That did not plummet until federal legislation in the 1960s put a stop to legal segregation and discrimination, handing victory to progressives.
—Robert A. Pape, Foreign Affairs, 23 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for segregation 
Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 27 Sep. 2024
The ride had become a symbol of the fight against segregation not only in southern bus terminals but everywhere.
—Katie Hafner, Scientific American, 26 Sep. 2024
Amendments, the Court barely lifted a finger to end segregation and disenfranchisement on the basis of race—not that Congress or the executive branch did much, either.
—Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2024
That did not plummet until federal legislation in the 1960s put a stop to legal segregation and discrimination, handing victory to progressives.
—Robert A. Pape, Foreign Affairs, 23 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for segregation
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'segregation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near segregation
Cite this Entry
“Segregation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/segregation. Accessed 13 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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