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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
  • Each match requires bespoke safety measures, so the level of segregation required against Liverpool is believed to have been a factor in why the match was not permitted to reach capacity, despite being a ‘sell-out’.
    — Chris Waugh, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The classic became one of the premier showcases for Black college football during segregation.
    — D’Joumbarey A. Moreau, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of segregation
Noun
  • Nearly a century later, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, seeking to end the persistent discrimination and racial violence against Black Americans.
    — Lisa Mascaro, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The state of New Jersey previously sued Amazon in October 2025, alleging widespread discrimination against pregnant workers and employees with disabilities.
    — Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 9 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 15 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on apartheid

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about apartheid

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