apartheid

noun

apart·​heid ə-ˈpär-ˌtāt How to pronounce apartheid (audio) -ˌtīt How to pronounce apartheid (audio)
1
: racial segregation
specifically : a former policy of segregation and political, social, and economic discrimination against the non-white majority in the Republic of South Africa

Note: The extreme racial segregation of apartheid lasted from 1948 to 1994 and included such restrictions as where people of certain races (see race entry 1 sense 1a) could live or own land, what jobs they could hold, and who could and couldn't participate in government.

2
: separation, segregation
cultural apartheid
gender apartheid

Word History

Etymology

Afrikaans, from apart apart + -heid -hood

First Known Use

1947, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of apartheid was in 1947

Dictionary Entries Near apartheid

Cite this Entry

“Apartheid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apartheid. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

apartheid

noun
apart·​heid ə-ˈpär-ˌtāt How to pronounce apartheid (audio) -ˌtīt How to pronounce apartheid (audio)
: racial segregation
especially : a policy of racial segregation formerly practiced in the Republic of South Africa
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!