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
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
At the dawn of the 20th century, African Americans faced lynch mobs, disenfranchisement, and segregation.
—
Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 24 May 2025
Since the 1890s, Inkwell Beach, part of Oak Bluffs Town Beach, has been a summertime sanctuary for Black families seeking reprieve from segregation and discrimination.
—Mariette Williams, Essence, 21 May 2025
And there is no memory more inconvenient to the American project than that of Black women who remember everything: slavery, segregation, the betrayals of the suffragettes, the sidelining during Civil Rights, and now, the erasure from intellectual leadership.
—Jack Hill, Baltimore Sun, 17 May 2025
The law was intended to address segregation in public schools by requiring school systems to report racial demographics of each school to the state Board of Education and note when a school’s number of minority students is substantially more or less than the system-wide average.
—Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for segregation
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Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 24 May 2025
Since the 1890s, Inkwell Beach, part of Oak Bluffs Town Beach, has been a summertime sanctuary for Black families seeking reprieve from segregation and discrimination.
—Mariette Williams, Essence, 21 May 2025
And there is no memory more inconvenient to the American project than that of Black women who remember everything: slavery, segregation, the betrayals of the suffragettes, the sidelining during Civil Rights, and now, the erasure from intellectual leadership.
—Jack Hill, Baltimore Sun, 17 May 2025
The law was intended to address segregation in public schools by requiring school systems to report racial demographics of each school to the state Board of Education and note when a school’s number of minority students is substantially more or less than the system-wide average.
—Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for segregation
Cite this Entry
“Segregation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/segregation. Accessed 9 Jun. 2025.
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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