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
In Chicago, those numbers play out against a backdrop of profound racial and economic segregation.
—
Marisa Novara, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2025
During a time of segregation that was merely 34 years since the Emancipation Proclamation but still nearly 70 before the Civil Rights Act, Fuller’s prevailing and obtaining his medical doctorate is a remarkable achievement.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN, 27 Feb. 2025
That includes information technology issues, a lack of documentation over manual journal entries and insufficient controls to address segregation of staff duties.
—Samantha Subin, CNBC, 26 Feb. 2025
In her thorough, compelling summary of the 41-day trial, Adams shows how the plaintiffs painstakingly established that school segregation was primarily a result of residential segregation.
—Barbara Spindel, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for segregation
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Marisa Novara, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2025
During a time of segregation that was merely 34 years since the Emancipation Proclamation but still nearly 70 before the Civil Rights Act, Fuller’s prevailing and obtaining his medical doctorate is a remarkable achievement.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN, 27 Feb. 2025
That includes information technology issues, a lack of documentation over manual journal entries and insufficient controls to address segregation of staff duties.
—Samantha Subin, CNBC, 26 Feb. 2025
In her thorough, compelling summary of the 41-day trial, Adams shows how the plaintiffs painstakingly established that school segregation was primarily a result of residential segregation.
—Barbara Spindel, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 Feb. 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 12 Mar. 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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