apartheid

noun

Definition of apartheidnext
as in segregation
a former social system in South Africa in which black people and people from other racial groups did not have the same political and economic rights as white people and were forced to live separately from white people

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for apartheid
  1. segregation
  2. discrimination
Noun
  • That was the case in the United States during the legal segregation of African Americans in the South—some police officers were members of violent white supremacist organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Defense attorneys described their confinement as effectively punitive segregation even though the brothers had not committed disciplinary violations.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of segregation
Noun
  • Tayfun Coskun / Anadolu via Getty Images Two former Golden State Warriors employees have sued the NBA franchise, alleging gender, age and race-based discrimination, workplace harassment and retaliation tied to their terminations.
    — Devon Henderson, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • For now, families say their children have to manage the judgement that comes with HIV, which can translate to discrimination against them and their siblings.
    — Betsy Joles, NPR, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of discrimination
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Apartheid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apartheid. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on apartheid

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about apartheid

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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