apartheid

Definition of apartheidnext
as in segregation
a former social system in South Africa in which black people and people from other racial groups did not have the same political and economic rights as white people and were forced to live separately from white people

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for apartheid
Noun
  • People from throughout the nation come to the former all-Black school building to learn about this nation's history of school segregation and the landmark court case that banned it in 1954.
    Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 30 June 2026
  • At the center of that legacy is the Historic 18th and Vine Jazz District, where generations of Black entrepreneurs, musicians and residents built a thriving cultural and business community during segregation.
    J.M. Banks June 29, Kansas City Star, 29 June 2026
Noun
  • In May, the EEOC filed a discrimination lawsuit against the New York Times alleging discrimination against a white male employee, which the Times has rejected as politically motivated.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • Calling for reinstatement of the team, the group said the school’s decision was based on false information and amounted to gender discrimination under Title IX.
    Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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“Apartheid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apartheid. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.

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