noun
segregation
seg-rih-GAY-shun/ˌseɡrɪˈɡeɪʃn/
The act or practice of keeping people or things in separate groups.
The attendant enforces racial segregation between the station's two waiting benches.
Etymology
The underlying image is separating something from a flock. This became separation from a larger body generally, then the specific social meaning of enforced separation of racial groups.
In context
Segregation of white and colored children in public schools has a detrimental effect upon the colored children.
More examples
- Proper segregation of waste keeps hazardous materials out of ordinary trash.
- Segregation by age prevents younger children from playing with older ones.
- The new law bans segregation in public housing.
Forms
segregation
segregate verb — Keep people or things in separate groups.
Similar words
- separation
- Broader term for keeping things apart, not necessarily in groups.
- isolation
- Emphasizes cutting off contact rather than maintaining separate groups.