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
Thirty-five city blocks were burned to the ground and decades of segregation, trauma and financial hardship followed for the city's Black community.
—
Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 25 Nov. 2025
That students at Wadleigh seemed to be able to express their opinions on race politics and issues such as segregation—and were even encouraged to do so—was not a coincidence.
—Literary Hub, 25 Nov. 2025
The first successful case in California, against school segregation, was in Lemon Grove.
—Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Nov. 2025
Decades of research indicates that unnecessary segregation encourages children to think in stereotypes, narrows their self-expression and exploration, and fails to teach boys how to compete.
—Soraya Chemaly, Time, 24 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for segregation
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Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 25 Nov. 2025
That students at Wadleigh seemed to be able to express their opinions on race politics and issues such as segregation—and were even encouraged to do so—was not a coincidence.
—Literary Hub, 25 Nov. 2025
The first successful case in California, against school segregation, was in Lemon Grove.
—Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Nov. 2025
Decades of research indicates that unnecessary segregation encourages children to think in stereotypes, narrows their self-expression and exploration, and fails to teach boys how to compete.
—Soraya Chemaly, Time, 24 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 30 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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