desegregate

verb

de·​seg·​re·​gate (ˌ)dē-ˈse-gri-ˌgāt How to pronounce desegregate (audio)
desegregated; desegregating; desegregates

transitive verb

: to eliminate segregation in
specifically : to free of any law, provision, or practice requiring isolation of the members of a particular race in separate units

Examples of desegregate in a Sentence

efforts to desegregate the town's buses Eventually the city's schools desegregated.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Bridges was the first Black child to desegregate William Frantz Elementary School in Louisiana in 1960. Tanasia Kenney, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2025 Once settled in, gather with others at Michele’s by chef Matt Baker, rooftop bar Wild Days, and speakeasy Allegory, which features a mural by local artist Erik Thor Sandberg depicting the young Ruby Bridges—one of the first Black children to desegregate a Southern school in the 1960s. Laura Dannen Redman, AFAR Media, 14 Apr. 2025 The Emancipation Proclamation was an executive order, as was Harry Truman's directive to desegregate the military. Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025 The Black heroes of the 555th did participate with their White brothers-in-arms for the 1946 victory parade in New York City even before the Army and the rest of the military was desegregated. Sabrina Clay, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for desegregate

Word History

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of desegregate was in 1949

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Desegregate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/desegregate. Accessed 13 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

desegregate

verb
de·​seg·​re·​gate (ˈ)dē-ˈseg-ri-ˌgāt How to pronounce desegregate (audio)
: to eliminate segregation in
especially : to end by law the isolation of members of a particular race in separate units
desegregate city schools
desegregation
(ˌ)dē-ˌseg-ri-ˈgā-shən
noun

Legal Definition

desegregate

transitive verb
de·​seg·​re·​gate dē-ˈse-grə-ˌgāt How to pronounce desegregate (audio)
desegregated; desegregating
: to eliminate segregation in
specifically : to free from any law, provision, or practice requiring isolation of the members of a particular race in separate units

intransitive verb

: to become desegregated

More from Merriam-Webster on desegregate

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