Segregation Meaning

Segregation

Definitions and Meaning in English

1. The action or state of setting someone or something apart from others.
2. The enforced separation of different racial, ethnic, or religious groups within a society.
3. The process of separating individuals or groups based on characteristics such as race, gender, or class.
4. In biology, the separation of genetic material during cell division.

History and Origin

The word “segregation” originates from the Latin segregatio, meaning “a separation or a setting apart,” which comes from segregare, meaning “to separate” or “to isolate.” It has been used in various contexts since the 16th century, but its most prominent usage is in the context of race relations, particularly during the 19th and 20th centuries in the United States, where racial segregation was legally enforced under the “Jim Crow” laws.

Detailed Explanation

“Segregation” refers to the act of separating groups or individuals, often on the basis of physical, social, or cultural differences. Historically, the term is most strongly associated with the enforced separation of races in the United States, especially in the period between the 19th and mid-20th centuries. During this time, African Americans were segregated from white Americans in public places, schools, transportation, and other areas of life. Although legal segregation was officially ended in the U.S. with civil rights movements, the term can still be used in broader contexts to describe any form of separation, whether voluntary or enforced, based on differences like race, religion, or other societal factors.

In a more neutral or technical sense, segregation can also describe the biological or scientific process of separating different elements. For example, in genetics, segregation refers to the way chromosomes or genes are separated during reproduction.

Example Sentences

1. Racial segregation was legally enforced in many parts of the United States until the Civil Rights Movement.
2. The segregation of students based on academic ability led to inequality in the education system.
3. There are still subtle forms of segregation in some cities, despite the end of official segregation laws.
4. The genetic segregation of traits occurs when alleles are distributed to offspring during reproduction.
5. In the workplace, segregation of duties helps ensure accountability and prevent fraud.
6. The hotel practiced segregation by refusing service to people of certain racial backgrounds.
7. Social segregation can occur in communities that are divided along socioeconomic lines.
8. The school was criticized for its segregation of special-needs students into separate classrooms.
9. The museum had an exhibit highlighting the history of segregation in the United States.

Synonyms with Short Explanation

1. Separation – The act of dividing or setting apart, similar to segregation.
2. Isolation – The condition of being separated from others, often used to describe social or physical separation.
3. Discrimination – The unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, often related to segregation.
4. Apartheid – A system of institutionalized racial segregation, most famously applied in South Africa.
5. Exclusion – The act of keeping someone or something out, which often leads to segregation.

Related Words with Short Explanation

1. Integration – The opposite of segregation, referring to the process of bringing different groups together.
2. Segregated – Describes something or someone that has been separated from others based on a particular characteristic.
3. Prejudice – A preconceived opinion or bias against a person or group, often leading to segregation.
4. Jim Crow – Refers to laws that enforced racial segregation in the U.S. from the late 19th century until the mid-20th century.
5. Civil Rights – The rights of citizens to political and social freedom, often associated with the movement to end segregation.

More Matches with Short Explanation

1. Apartheid – A system of racial segregation, especially referring to the one implemented in South Africa.
2. Exclusivity – The practice of excluding certain groups, similar to segregation.
3. Balkanization – The division of a region or group into smaller, often hostile, units, similar to segregation.
4. Differentiation – The process of distinguishing between different groups or categories, sometimes leading to segregation.
5. Seclusion – The state of being kept away from others, which can be a form of segregation in some contexts.

Antonyms

1. Integration
2. Unification
3. Inclusivity
4. Unity
5. Coexistence