segregate

1 of 2

verb

seg·​re·​gate ˈse-gri-ˌgāt 

segregated; segregating

transitive verb

1

: to separate or set apart from others or from the general mass : isolate

2

: to cause or force the separation of (as from the rest of society)

intransitive verb

1

: separate, withdraw

2

: to practice or enforce a policy of segregation

3

: to undergo genetic segregation

segregative

ˈse-gri-ˌgā-tiv 

adjective

segregate

2 of 2

noun

seg·​re·​gate ˈse-gri-gət  -ˌgāt 

: one that is in some respect segregated

especially : one that differs genetically from the parental line because of genetic segregation

Did you know?

The prefix se- means "apart", so when you segregate something you set it apart from the herd. The word typically means separating something undesirable from the healthy majority. During the apple harvest, damaged fruit is segregated from the main crop and used for cider. In prisons, hardened criminals are segregated from youthful offenders. Lepers used to be segregated from the general population because they were thought to be highly infectious. The opposite of segregate is often integrate, and the two words were in the news almost daily for decades as African-Americans struggled to be admitted into all-white schools and neighborhoods.

Synonyms

Verb

• isolate
• separate

Examples of segregate in a Sentence

Verb

The civil rights movement fought against practices that segregated black and white people.

Many states at that time continued to segregate public schools.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

According to a 2024 report from New America, Connecticut has 23 of the top 300 most segregating school district borders in the country—including Hartford–South Windsor, Bridgeport–Fairfield, and Waterbury–Cheshire. —Letters To The Editor, Hartford Courant, 10 July 2025

However, research suggests that realtors and landlords are also more likely to show housing options in poor and racially segregated neighborhoods to people of color. —Eva Wen, jsonline.com, 3 July 2025

Noun

Reporting Highlights Widespread Divisions: A new ProPublica analysis shows how much private schools segregate students by race. —Jennifer Berry Hawes, ProPublica, 19 Dec. 2024

Two zippered compartments on either end segregate my dirty Birkenstocks and wet toiletry bag and bathing suit from my clothes, and there are a few internal mesh zipper pockets for tucking in your wallet and Kindle. —Adrienne So, WIRED, 23 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Latin segregatus, past participle of segregare, from se- apart + greg-, grex herd — more at secede

First Known Use

Verb

1542, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1871, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for segregate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• adsorbate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate

Kids Definition

segregate

verb

seg·​re·​gate

ˈseg-ri-ˌgāt

segregated; segregating

: to separate from others or from the general mass : isolate

especially : to separate by races

Etymology

Verb

from Latin segregatus "set apart," from segregare "to set apart," from se- "apart, without" and gregare "gather together into a flock or herd," from greg-, grex "flock, herd" — related to aggregate, congregate

Medical Definition

segregate

1 of 2 intransitive verb

seg·​re·​gate ˈseg-ri-ˌgāt 

segregated; segregating

: to undergo genetic segregation

segregate

2 of 2 noun

seg·​re·​gate -gət 

: an individual or class of individuals differing in one or more genetic characters from the parental line usually because of segregation of genes

Legal Definition

segregate

verb

seg·​re·​gate ˈse-gri-ˌgāt 

segregated; segregating

transitive verb

: to cause or force the separation of

specifically : to separate (persons) on the basis of race, religion, or national origin

intransitive verb

: to practice or enforce a policy of segregation

segregative

-ˌgā-tiv 

adjective