Word
segregation
Phoneticsseg·re·ga·tion, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌsɛɡɹəˈɡeɪʃən/
UK/sˌɛɡɹɪɡˈeɪʃən/
Definitions
01social/racial separation
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the policy or practice of keeping people of different races, religions, or genders separate in society.
n. the enforced or systemic separation of different racial, ethnic, or social groups in a country, community, or establishment.
“The civil rights movement fought to end racial segregation in public schools.”
“The landmark court ruling aimed to dismantle the systemic segregation that had historically excluded minority groups from equal access to housing and education.”
Usage
often used with the preposition 'of' followed by the group being separated.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02sorting things
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the act of separating things into different groups based on what they are.
n. the act of setting apart or isolating items or data based on shared characteristics or qualities.
“The segregation of recyclable materials from general waste helps the environment.”
“Effective waste management requires the strict segregation of hazardous chemicals from organic matter to prevent environmental contamination.”
Usage
uncountable in its general sense; countable when referring to specific instances.
Synonyms
03prison isolation
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Law Technical
n. keeping a prisoner away from other prisoners for safety or punishment.
n. the isolation of a prisoner from the general population, often for disciplinary reasons or administrative protection.
“The inmate was placed in segregation after he started a fight in the cafeteria.”
“The warden ordered the prisoner into administrative segregation pending a full investigation into the security breach.”
Usage
often appears in the phrase 'administrative segregation'.
Synonyms
04biological/genetic
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Science Technical · Academic
n. the way parents pass only one of their two genes to their child.
n. the separation of pairs of alleles or chromosomes during the formation of reproductive cells.
“The law of segregation explains how traits are passed from parents to offspring.”
“During meiosis, the segregation of homologous chromosomes ensures that each gamete receives a unique genetic profile.”
Usage
usually refers to Mendelian inheritance or cell division.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“He was reported to be very agitated, shouting and repeatedly pressing the emergency bell in his cell – he was then placed into segregation after getting into a fight with his cellmate.” “Given the history of public education and segregation in the U.S., Black children and families are sometimes skeptical about traditional schooling.” Etymology
1555. From Latin segregatio. Morphologically segregate + -ion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/segregation