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
The largest detention center in California, Adelanto has for years been the focus of complaints from detainees, attorneys and state and federal inspectors about inadequate medical care, overly restrictive segregation and lax mental health services.
—
Jenny Jarvie, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025
This is maybe understandable in the former states of the Confederacy where Republicans took control not as the Party of Lincoln, but as the alternative to the Democrats who had abandoned legal segregation after 90 years of succoring segregation and Jim Crow.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 20 June 2025
The museum operates two sites: the Bibb House, focusing on slavery and emancipation until 1865, and The Bottom, highlighting the post–Civil War resilience and civil rights efforts of a community shaped by segregation and racial injustice.
—Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 16 June 2025
In fact, school voucher programs tend to exacerbate both racial and economic segregation, a trend that continues today.
—Kendall Deas, The Conversation, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for segregation
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Jenny Jarvie, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025
This is maybe understandable in the former states of the Confederacy where Republicans took control not as the Party of Lincoln, but as the alternative to the Democrats who had abandoned legal segregation after 90 years of succoring segregation and Jim Crow.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 20 June 2025
The museum operates two sites: the Bibb House, focusing on slavery and emancipation until 1865, and The Bottom, highlighting the post–Civil War resilience and civil rights efforts of a community shaped by segregation and racial injustice.
—Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 16 June 2025
In fact, school voucher programs tend to exacerbate both racial and economic segregation, a trend that continues today.
—Kendall Deas, The Conversation, 9 June 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 6 Jul. 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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