desegregate

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verb de·seg·re·gate \(ˌ)dē-ˈse-gri-ˌgāt\

Definition of desegregate

transitive verb
: to eliminate segregation in; specifically : to free of any law, provision, or practice requiring isolation of the members of a particular race in separate units
intransitive verb
: to become desegregated

See desegregate defined for English-language learners

See desegregate defined for kids

Examples of desegregate in a Sentence

efforts to desegregate the town's buses
Eventually the city's schools desegregated.

Recent Examples of desegregate from the Web

When ordered to desegregate last year, the school district in Cleveland initially fought the judge’s order.

— angela helm, The Root, "Justice for Jasmine: Black Miss. Teen Forced to Share Valedictorian Title Sues," 3 July 2017
There was Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier years before schools were desegregated.

— david montero, latimes.com, "Through good times and bad, baseball endures. After the congressional shooting, can it help bridge political divides?," 15 June 2017
In the post-war U.S. Air Force, black aviators continued to serve in their own units until all military forces were desegregated by President Harry Truman in 1948.

— brian albrecht, cleveland.com, "Oberlin's Tuskegee Airmen of World War II honored with monument dedication Saturday (photos, video)," 9 June 2017
If people believe that this all happened without government direction, then there is no constitutional obligation to desegregate.

— katie nodjimbadem, Smithsonian, "The Racial Segregation of American Cities Was Anything But Accidental," 30 May 2017
Concordia Parish, which stretches for 70 miles along the Mississippi border, has been trying to desegregate its schools for decades, under the eye of the federal government.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "Are Louisiana charter schools widening racial divides?," 23 May 2017
Among the last schools to desegregate were the five universities that now barred undocumented students.

— jonathan blitzer, The New Yorker, "An Underground College for Undocumented Immigrants," 22 May 2017
The existing five schools are considered desegregated, district spokesman Ted Beasley said.

— danielle dreilinger, NOLA.com, "Racial segregation would grow with new Jefferson Parish school zones," 18 May 2017
Lucille Harper remembers walking to Glen Flora Elementary School as a black fourth-grader after the Illinois Supreme Court handed down the decision that desegregated Waukegan schools.

— emily k. coleman, Lake County News-Sun, "Waukegan street sign to honor parent at heart of desegregation lawsuit," 11 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'desegregate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of desegregate

1949

DESEGREGATE Defined for English Language Learners

desegregate

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verb

Definition of desegregate for English Language Learners

: to end a policy that keeps people of different races apart : to end a policy of segregation

DESEGREGATE Defined for Kids

desegregate

play

verb de·seg·re·gate \dē-ˈse-gri-ˌgāt\

Definition of desegregate for Students

desegregated

;

desegregating

: to end by law the separation of members of different races desegregate schools

Law Dictionary

desegregate

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transitive verb de·seg·re·gate \dē-ˈse-grə-ˌgāt\

Legal Definition of desegregate

desegregated

desegregating

: to eliminate segregation in; specifically : to free from any law, provision, or practice requiring isolation of the members of a particular race in separate units
intransitive verb