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 time, the parish was reportedly spearheaded by Leander Perez, who championed preserving racial segregation, which ultimately led to outrage and protests.
—
Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 2 May 2025
Sinners is almost two movies in one: a vampire slaughterhouse film that’s also a period piece about the near-impossibility of upward mobility in the segregation economy.
—Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 2 May 2025
The notorious brutality of slavery and segregation there was not unrelated to the fact that, through the early twentieth century, Mississippi and South Carolina were the only states with majority-Black populations.
—Jelani Cobb, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
Alexis Herman was a Democratic Party insider who grew up under segregation in Alabama and became the first Black secretary of labor.
—Matina Stevis-Gridneff, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for segregation
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Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 2 May 2025
Sinners is almost two movies in one: a vampire slaughterhouse film that’s also a period piece about the near-impossibility of upward mobility in the segregation economy.
—Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 2 May 2025
The notorious brutality of slavery and segregation there was not unrelated to the fact that, through the early twentieth century, Mississippi and South Carolina were the only states with majority-Black populations.
—Jelani Cobb, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
Alexis Herman was a Democratic Party insider who grew up under segregation in Alabama and became the first Black secretary of labor.
—Matina Stevis-Gridneff, New York Times, 28 Apr. 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 10 May. 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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