First Known Use: 1542
Dictionary
1segregate
verb seg·re·gate \ˈse-gri-ˌgāt\
: to separate groups of people because of their particular race, religion, etc.
: to not allow people of different races to be together in (a place, such as a school)
seg·re·gat·edseg·re·gat·ing
Full Definition of SEGREGATE
transitive verb
1
: to separate or set apart from others or from the general mass : isolate
2
: to cause or force the separation of (as from the rest of society)
intransitive verb
2
: to practice or enforce a policy of segregation
3
: to undergo genetic segregation
— seg·re·ga·tive \-ˌgā-tiv\ adjective
See segregate defined for English-language learners
See segregate defined for kids
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Origin of SEGREGATE
Latin segregatus, past participle of segregare, from se- apart + greg-, grex herd — more at secede
Related to SEGREGATE
- Antonyms
- desegregate, integrate, reintegrate
Rhymes with SEGREGATE
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2segregate
noun seg·re·gate \ˈse-gri-gət, -ˌgāt\
Definition of SEGREGATE
: one that is in some respect segregated; especially : one that differs genetically from the parental line because of genetic segregation
First Known Use of SEGREGATE
1871
SEGREGATE Defined for Kids
segregate
verb seg·re·gate \ˈse-gri-ˌgāt\
seg·re·gat·edseg·re·gat·ing
Definition of SEGREGATE for Kids
: to separate a race, class, or group from the rest of society
Word Root of SEGREGATE
The Latin word grex, meaning “flock,”and its form gregis give us the root greg. Words from the Latin grex have something to do with flocks or groups. Anyone gregarious, or social, enjoys being part of the flock. To congregate is to gather as a flock or crowd. To segregate is to separate away from others or away from the flock.
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