segregate

[ verb seg-ri-geyt; noun seg-ri-git, -geyt ]

verb (used with object)

, seg·re·gat·ed, seg·re·gat·ing.

1. to separate or set apart from others or from the main body or group; isolate:

   to segregate exceptional children; to segregate hardened criminals.

   Antonyms: integrate

2. to require, by law or custom, the separation of (an ethnic, racial, religious, or other minority group) from the dominant majority.

verb (used without object)

, seg·re·gat·ed, seg·re·gat·ing.

1. to separate, withdraw, or go apart; separate from the main body and collect in one place; become segregated.
2. to practice, require, or enforce segregation, especially racial segregation.
3. Genetics. (of allelic genes) to separate during meiosis.

noun

1. a segregated thing, person, or group.

segregate

/ ˈsɛɡrɪɡəbəl; ˈsɛɡrɪˌɡeɪt /

verb

1. to set or be set apart from others or from the main group
2. tr to impose segregation on (a racial or minority group)
3. genetics metallurgy to undergo or cause to undergo segregation

Derived Forms

• ˈsegreˌgative, adjective
• ˈsegreˌgator, noun
• segregable, adjective

Other Words From

• seg·re·ga·ble [seg, -ri-g, uh, -b, uh, l], adjective
• segre·gative adjective
• non·segre·ga·ble adjective
• non·segre·gative adjective
• re·segre·gate verb resegregated resegregating
• un·segre·ga·ble adjective
• un·segre·gating adjective
• un·segre·gative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of segregate¹

1400–50 in sense “segregated”; 1535–45 as transitive v.; late Middle English segregat < Latin sēgregātus (past participle of sēgregāre to part from the flock), equivalent to sē- se- + greg- (stem of grex flock) + -ātus -ate ¹; gregarious

Word History and Origins

Origin of segregate¹

C16: from Latin sēgregāre, from sē- apart + grex a flock

Example Sentences

A federal judge on Tuesday struck down a lawsuit filed by the Republican National Committee that sought to "segregate" certain ballots from Georgia's Democratic strongholds.

From Salon

Another man, who suffered from schizoaffective disorder, had been mostly segregated from other detainees for two years when he was found hanging, and later died.

From Los Angeles Times

Both Dr Mott and Mr Butler stress the importance of off-site or otherwise segregated data backups so that, in the event of a ransomware attack, all that vital information is not necessarily lost.

From BBC

American society remains highly race and class segregated.

From Salon

Today Cape Town is considered one of the most racially segregated and unequal cities in South Africa, despite its multi-ethnic mix.

From BBC

Related Words

• disconnect
• divide
• insulate
• isolate
• sequester
• single out