segregate

[seg-ri-geyt, seg-ri-git, -geyt]

verb (used with object)

segregated, segregating 

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)

segregated, segregating 

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

Other Word Forms

• segregative adjective
• segregator noun
• segregable adjective
• nonsegregable adjective
• nonsegregative adjective
• resegregate verb
• unsegregable adjective
• unsegregating adjective
• unsegregative 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

As the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. famously said, “Eleven o’clock on Sunday morning…is the most segregated hour in America.”

From Salon

While Soliman was initially slated to remain in segregated detention for some 20 days, he was released early.

From Salon

This means that Democratic and Republican voters are segregated from each other geographically, with Democrats tending toward big cities and suburbs, and Republicans occupying rural areas.

From Salon

He said that he identified with them because of his upbringing in racially segregated Richmond in the US state of Virginia.

From BBC

During his campaign, Lee promised to segregate South Korea’s fast-depleting national pension by age, a move he said would relieve younger South Koreans of the burden of subsidizing the older generation’s retirement.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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