miscegenation

noun

mis·​ce·​ge·​na·​tion (ˌ)mi-ˌse-jə-ˈnā-shən 

ˌmi-si-jə-ˈnā-

: a mixture of races

especially : marriage, cohabitation, or sexual intercourse between a white person and a member of another race (see race entry 1 sense 1a)

Note: The word miscegenation is associated especially with historical laws against interracial marriage. In the United States, such laws were declared unconstitutional in 1967.

miscegenational

(ˌ)mi-ˌse-jə-ˈnā-sh(ə-)nəl 

ˌmi-si-jə-ˈnā-

adjective

Examples of miscegenation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

With its many hidden histories and ever-present diverse population that are a constant reminder of the miscegenation of the past, New Orleans has always been a bit of an enigma. —Lynnette Nicholas, Essence, 10 July 2024

In 1934, the Production Code, colloquially known as the Hays Code, was adopted by the industry, officially disallowing onscreen miscegenation and interracial romance. —Mayukh Sen, The New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2023

At first, the musical comedy resembled a plotless revue — until the arrival of Show Boat in 1927, a melodrama about miscegenation with lofty aspirations. —Vulture, 28 Mar. 2023

Many of the traditional dishes are the product of miscegenation and mixed foods that were consumed in Europe with others that were consumed by indigenous peoples, such as broad beans or nopales. —Imelda García, Dallas News, 17 Mar. 2023

Word History

Etymology

irregular from Latin miscēre to mix + genus race — more at mix, kin

First Known Use

1863, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing miscegenation

• anti-miscegenation

Kids Definition

miscegenation

noun

mis·​ce·​ge·​na·​tion (ˌ)mis-ˌej-ə-ˈnā-shən 

ˌmis-i-jə-ˈnā-

: a mixture of races

especially : marriage, cohabitation, or sexual intercourse between a white person and a member of another race

—used especially in now repealed laws of the past