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 film, which world premiered to acclaim in the Discovery section at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September, draws on the experiences of Mkhwanazi’s family under the racist system of segregation imposed by South Africa’s government all-white from 1948 to 1994.
—
Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 14 Nov. 2025
But over the years, residential segregation has declined slowly, and the most egregious and overt discriminatory acts, such as cross burnings and blockbusting, rarely happen anymore.
—Gregory Squires, The Conversation, 13 Nov. 2025
Those deployments were politically controversial at the time, especially to those in the South who wanted to preserve the Jim Crow system of segregation.
—Peter D. Feaver, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2025
The cemetery dates back to the mid-1800s and was created during segregation.
—Julie Carey, NBC news, 11 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for segregation
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Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 14 Nov. 2025
But over the years, residential segregation has declined slowly, and the most egregious and overt discriminatory acts, such as cross burnings and blockbusting, rarely happen anymore.
—Gregory Squires, The Conversation, 13 Nov. 2025
Those deployments were politically controversial at the time, especially to those in the South who wanted to preserve the Jim Crow system of segregation.
—Peter D. Feaver, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2025
The cemetery dates back to the mid-1800s and was created during segregation.
—Julie Carey, NBC news, 11 Nov. 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 23 Nov. 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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