# segregation

/ˌsɛɡɹəˈɡeɪʃən/ (US) · /sˌɛɡɹɪɡˈeɪʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/segregation
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. social/racial separation

noun · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: 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.

### 2. sorting things

noun · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: 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.

### 3. prison isolation

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

For teachers: 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'.

### 4. biological/genetic

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Academic

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

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The law ended racial segregation in public schools.
- The city's history is marked by the segregation of neighborhoods, which created long-lasting economic gaps between different communities.
- Sociologists argue that while legal segregation has been abolished, economic factors often lead to a de facto separation of social classes within modern urban environments.

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