Segregation refers to the act of separatingputting one thing away from another so they are not together people or things, and it can also mean a socialconnected with society and how people live together system that keeps groups apart. In genetics, it has a more technical meaning about how allelesdifferent forms of the same gene at a particular location separate during cell division.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˌsɛɡrəˈɡeɪʃən/
Easy pronunciation: seg-rə-GAY-shən (approximate spelling).
Stress: Primary stress on the third syllable, GAY.
Use this pronunciation for the noun meaning the act of separating or setting apart.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Segregation Meaning
the act of keeping people or things apart
Part of speech: noun
Definition: the act of separating or setting apart
Example: The segregation of the recyclables from the trash made disposal easier.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- sequestration — Works as a formal synonym for the act of separating or isolating something.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Segregation
Meaning 2
a system where different racial or social groups are kept apart
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a social system that provides separate facilities for minority groups
Example: The city had a long history of racial segregation.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- separatism — Related to separation, but it is not a perfect everyday substitute for the social system sense.
Meaning 3
the way allele pairs split apart during the formation of sex cells
Part of speech: noun
Definition: (genetics) the separation of paired alleles during meiosis so that members of each pair of alleles appear in different gametes
Example: Genetic segregation helps explain how traits are passed from parents to offspring.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Segregation Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- sequestration
social system that keeps groups separate
- separatism
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not confuse segregation with integration, which means bringing different groups together.
- In biology, segregation has a specific genetics meaning, not the social meaning.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does segregation mean in simple English?
Segregation means separating people or things, or keeping groups apart.
What is segregation in a social context?
It is a system or practice that keeps different groups, especially minority groups, separate from others.
What is segregation in genetics?
In genetics, segregation is the separation of paired alleles during meiosis so they end up in different gametes.
What are some synonyms for segregation?
Sequestration can work for the general sense of separating something. Separatism is related to the social-system sense, but it is not a perfect substitute.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.