# segregate

/ˈsɛɡɹəˌɡeɪt/ (US) · /sˈɛɡɹɪɡˌeɪt/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/segregate
Updated: 2026-10-14

## Definition

to keep different groups of people apart so they cannot mix or meet.

For teachers: to separate people or things into distinct groups and keep them apart, often by law or policy. Typically implies enforced division along racial, ethnic, or social lines.

## Examples

- They segregate boys and girls in some schools.
- The city used to segregate passengers on buses by race.
- After the ruling, officials could no longer segregate students by neighbourhood in a way that reproduced the old racial divisions.

## Usage notes

- Transitive and takes a direct object; often used in the passive with 'by' or 'from' ('segregated by race').

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.