Segregation
ˌsɛɡrɪˈɡeɪʃən
Definitions
2 meaningsThe act or policy of separating people of different races, religions, or other groups.
ˌsɛɡrɪˈɡeɪʃən
The enforced separation of different racial groups in a country, community, or establishment.
Racial segregation was a common practice in many southern states of the United States before the civil rights movement.
💡 Simply: Imagine if some people were forced to use different bathrooms, go to different schools, or live in different neighborhoods just because of their skin color or background. That's segregation. It's not fair because everyone deserves the same opportunities and treatment.
👶 For kids: Segregation means when people are kept apart because they're different, like because of their skin color. It's like telling some kids they can't play on the same playground as other kids, which isn't nice.
More Examples
The historical impact of segregation continues to be felt in many communities.
The segregation of public facilities was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
How It's Used
"The civil rights movement fought against racial segregation in the United States."
"South Africa's apartheid regime was a system of racial segregation."
"Historical examples of school segregation have deeply affected communities."
The act or process of separating things or people from a larger group or whole.
ˌsɛɡrɪˈɡeɪʃən
The action or state of setting someone or something apart from other people or things or being set apart.
The segregation of recyclable materials is essential for environmental sustainability.
💡 Simply: Imagine sorting things into different groups. You might segregate your laundry by color, or segregate recyclables from regular trash. It's about keeping things apart based on specific characteristics.
👶 For kids: Segregation is when you put things in different groups because they're different, like sorting toys into different boxes or separating red things from blue things.
More Examples
The gene segregation during meiosis is a key process in genetics.
Data segregation in financial systems is crucial for security and regulatory compliance.
How It's Used
"Mendel's laws describe the segregation of alleles during gamete formation."
"Data segregation is vital for privacy and security."
"Segregation of waste materials is a critical step in the recycling process."
Synonyms & Antonyms
From Latin segregatio, meaning 'separation from the flock,' from segregare, 'to separate,' from se- 'apart' + grex, greg- 'flock'. The term gained prominence in the context of racial separation, especially in the United States.
Historically, the word 'segregation' became strongly associated with Jim Crow laws in the United States, which enforced racial separation.
Memory tip
Think of a broken group, forced apart.
Word Origin
"to separate from the flock"