desegregation
UK[ˌdiːˌsɛɡrɪˈɡeɪʃən]US[ˌdiːˌsɛɡrɪˈɡeɪʃən]
n
The process of ending a policy that keeps people of different races apart, especially in schools, housing, or public facilities.
Morpheme Breakdown
de
segregate
ion
de
reverse
segregate
separate
ion
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'desegregation' is built upon the core verb 'segregate,' which originates from the Latin 'segregare,' itself formed from 'se-' (apart) and 'grex' (flock, herd), literally meaning "to separate from the flock." The addition of the Latin prefix 'de-' acts as a reversive, signaling the undoing or removal of the state of separation. Finally, the suffix '-ion' nominalizes the entire process. Thus, the term's literal construction—"the process of reversing separation"—directly and logically maps to its modern socio-political meaning of ending racial segregation.
Analysis
Structure: de (reverse) + segregate (separate) + ion (noun suffix)
de: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "down from, off, reversing or undoing an action."
segregate: Latin origin, from the verb 'segregare' meaning "to separate from the flock, set apart."
ion: Latin origin, a suffix used to form nouns indicating an action, process, or result.
Examples
The court order led to the desegregation of the city's public school system.
The Civil Rights Movement fought tirelessly for the desegregation of buses and lunch counters.
True desegregation involves more than just legal changes; it requires a shift in societal attitudes.