What does "segregation" mean?
The act of setting apart and organizing things based upon their characteristics.
Segregation
/sɛɡɹəˈɡeɪ̯ʃən/ noun
noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The act of setting apart and organizing things based upon their characteristics.
- Grammar: segregation is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: alien, alteration, analysis, anatomization.
- Useful contrasts: creative writing method, diverse neighborhoods, ethnic diversity.
- Usage evidence: The Supreme Court attacks school segregation.
How to use "segregation"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "segregation" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "segregation" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "segregation" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "segregation" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "segregation" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "alien" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "segregation", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The act of setting apart and organizing things based upon their characteristics. countable, uncountable
- 2 the act of segregating or sequestering wordnet
- 3 The separation of people based upon race, sex, religion, or other identity in institutions. countable, uncountable
"The fact that one is gay or one's brother is gay […] — this has less influence on the average HK person's attention or attitude than how he or she finds a job, the way he lives and the way he eats, which is like New York or oter large cities. There tends to be a segregation between a person's private life and his job or other affairs. It does not mean that they are liberal, just that city life fosters this individualism."
- 4 a social system that provides separate facilities for minority groups wordnet
- 5 The setting apart in Mendelian inheritance of alleles, such that each parent passes only one allele to its offspring. countable, uncountable
Show 6 more definitions
- 6 (genetics) the separation of paired alleles during meiosis so that members of each pair of alleles appear in different gametes wordnet
- 7 Separation from a mass, and gathering about centers or into cavities at hand through cohesive or adhesive attraction or the crystallizing process. countable, uncountable
- 8 The separation of people (geographically, residentially, or in businesses, public transit, etc) into racial or other categories (e.g. religion, sex). countable, uncountable
- 9 The separation of people (geographically, residentially, or in businesses, public transit, etc) into various categories which occurs due to social forces (culture, etc). countable, uncountable
- 10 The separation of a pair of chromatids or chromosomes during mitosis and meiosis countable, uncountable
- 11 Separation for practical reasons, by necessity. countable, uncountable
"It has long been recognised that complete segregation of control of the respective services provided by the two undertakings, and of the power supply, signalling, and tracks relating to each was desirable."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
creative writing methoddiverse neighborhoodsethnic diversityfull inclusion
Example
"The Supreme Court attacks school segregation."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "segregation"?
Common synonyms include: alien, alteration, analysis, anatomization, anti semitism, anti-semitism.
How do you use "segregation" in a sentence?
The Supreme Court attacks school segregation.
How do you pronounce "segregation"?
Pronounced /sɛɡɹəˈɡeɪ̯ʃən/.
Etymology
1555. From Latin segregatio. Morphologically segregate + -ion.