apartheid

noun

apart·​heid ə-ˈpär-ˌtāt  -ˌtīt 

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

Phrases Containing apartheid

• anti-apartheid

Kids Definition

apartheid

noun

apart·​heid ə-ˈpär-ˌtāt  -ˌtīt 

: racial segregation

especially : a policy of racial segregation formerly practiced in the Republic of South Africa