segregation
UK[ˌseɡ.rɪˈɡeɪ.ʃən]US[ˌseɡ.rɪˈɡeɪ.ʃən]
n
The policy or practice of separating people of different races, religions, or sexes and treating them in a different way.
n
The act or process of separating something from something else or the state of being separated.
Morpheme Breakdown
se
greg
ation
se
apart
greg
flock, herd
ation
noun suffix
Etymology
The word segregation traces a clear path from the literal to the social. Its core is the Latin root "greg-" (flock, herd), derived from the Proto-Indo-European root ger- (to gather). Combined with the prefix "se-" (apart), the Latin verb "segregare" literally meant "to separate from the flock." This concrete sense of setting apart evolved in English to describe any process of separation. By the late 19th century, this abstract meaning was specifically applied to the enforced separation of racial or social groups, powerfully extending the metaphor of dividing a unified herd into isolated parts.
Analysis
Structure: se (apart) + greg (flock, herd) + ation (noun suffix)
- se: A Latin prefix meaning "apart," "away," or "without." It indicates separation.
- greg: A Latin root from "grex, gregis" meaning "flock" or "herd." It refers to a group or assemblage.
- ation: A noun-forming suffix of Latin origin ("-atio") indicating an action, process, or result.
Examples
The Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional.
The segregation of recyclable materials is essential for effective waste management.
During cell division, the segregation of chromosomes is a critical and precise process.