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
Moore said Wilson passionately advocated for the program over the past decades in Brookfield schools, as segregation can still be prevalent.
—
Drake Bentley, jsonline.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Never mind white World War Two soldiers’ relationship to segregation within the army itself, and ensuring that Black veterans couldn’t be entitled to the same VA resources, couldn’t move into the same neighborhoods that white veterans moved into.
—Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
Americans rebelled against a king, then applied that same thinking to abolish slavery, then dismantle segregation.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2025
In the long, hot summer of 1967, uprisings broke out across more than 150 cities after years of police abuse, segregation, and neglect.
—Josiah Bates, Time, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for segregation
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Drake Bentley, jsonline.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Never mind white World War Two soldiers’ relationship to segregation within the army itself, and ensuring that Black veterans couldn’t be entitled to the same VA resources, couldn’t move into the same neighborhoods that white veterans moved into.
—Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
Americans rebelled against a king, then applied that same thinking to abolish slavery, then dismantle segregation.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2025
In the long, hot summer of 1967, uprisings broke out across more than 150 cities after years of police abuse, segregation, and neglect.
—Josiah Bates, Time, 14 Oct. 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 Oct. 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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