What does "segregation" mean?

1. (social/racial separation) the policy or practice of keeping people of different races, religions, or genders separate in society. 2. (sorting things) the act of separating things into different groups based on what they are. 3. (prison isolation) keeping a prisoner away from other prisoners for safety or punishment. 4. (biological/genetic) the way parents pass only one of their two genes to their child.

How do you use "segregation"?

often used with the preposition 'of' followed by the group being separated. uncountable in its general sense; countable when referring to specific instances. often appears in the phrase 'administrative segregation'. usually refers to Mendelian inheritance or cell division.

segregation

US //ˌsɛɡɹəˈɡeɪʃən// UK //sˌɛɡɹɪɡˈeɪʃən// seg·re·ga·tion

1 social/racial separation (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

the policy or practice of keeping people of different races, religions, or genders separate in society.

the enforced or systemic separation of different racial, ethnic, or social groups in a country, community, or establishment.

Example

The civil rights movement fought to end racial segregation in public schools.

Example

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.
2 sorting things (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

the act of separating things into different groups based on what they are.

the act of setting apart or isolating items or data based on shared characteristics or qualities.

Example

The segregation of recyclable materials from general waste helps the environment.

Example

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.
- mixing
- blending

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3 prison isolation (n.)
C1 Advanced Technical Law

keeping a prisoner away from other prisoners for safety or punishment.

the isolation of a prisoner from the general population, often for disciplinary reasons or administrative protection.

Example

The inmate was placed in segregation after he started a fight in the cafeteria.

Example

The warden ordered the prisoner into administrative segregation pending a full investigation into the security breach.

Usage

often appears in the phrase 'administrative segregation'.
- solitary confinement
- isolation
4 biological/genetic (n.)
C2 Proficiency Technical Academic Science

the way parents pass only one of their two genes to their child.

the separation of pairs of alleles or chromosomes during the formation of reproductive cells.

Example

The law of segregation explains how traits are passed from parents to offspring.

Example

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.
- disjunction

Origin

1555. From Latin segregatio. Morphologically segregate + -ion.