desegregate
C1Formal, historical, political, legal
Definition
Meaning
To end the policy of segregation, especially racial segregation, in schools, neighbourhoods, or other institutions.
To abolish the separation or isolation of any groups, classes, or categories previously kept apart by policy, law, or social practice.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word carries strong historical and social justice connotations, primarily associated with the US Civil Rights Movement. Its use implies a deliberate, policy-driven reversal of segregation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Far more commonly used and historically significant in an American context (referencing school desegregation, buses, etc.). In British English, it is used but often in more general or international contexts.
Connotations
In American English, it is a loaded term with specific historical weight (Brown v. Board of Education, Little Rock Nine). In British English, connotations are less immediate but still serious.
Frequency
Higher frequency in American English due to its central role in 20th-century history and ongoing discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Institution] was desegregated.The government moved to desegregate [institution].The court ordered the city to desegregate its [public service].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms with this specific verb]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Possibly in diversity and inclusion reports: 'The company took steps to desegregate its leadership teams.'
Academic
Common in history, sociology, political science, and law texts discussing civil rights and social policy.
Everyday
Uncommon in casual conversation. Used when discussing historical events or current social justice issues.
Technical
Used in legal and policy documents pertaining to civil rights and anti-discrimination law.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The 1960s saw efforts to desegregate public facilities across the American South.
- The report called on the council to desegregate housing allocations.
American English
- The Supreme Court ruled that the school district must desegregate immediately.
- They fought for decades to desegregate the city's bus system.
adverb
British English
- [Rarely used as an adverb]
American English
- [Rarely used as an adverb]
adjective
British English
- The desegregated school served as a model for the region.
- They advocated for a desegregated society.
American English
- The newly desegregated lunch counter served its first mixed-race customers.
- Desegregated units performed with high morale.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The law helped to desegregate schools.
- After the war, the government began to desegregate the military.
- The city was slow to desegregate its public swimming pools.
- The landmark 1954 decision ordered states to desegregate their public school systems 'with all deliberate speed'.
- Activists used sit-ins as a non-violent tactic to pressure businesses to desegregate.
- While the legislation mandated desegregation, de facto segregation persisted in many northern urban neighbourhoods due to housing policies and economic disparity.
- Historians debate whether the primary goal was merely to desegregate institutions or to achieve genuine racial integration and equity.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: DE-SEGREGATE. DE (undo) + SEGREGATE (separate by race/group) = to undo separation.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL BARRIERS ARE PHYSICAL BARRIERS (to dismantle, to break down). INCLUSION IS A JOURNEY (to move toward).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid calquing as 'рассаживать' or 'рассортировывать'. This is not about 'sorting'.
- The correct conceptual equivalent is 'отменить сегрегацию', 'провести десегрегацию'.
- Do not confuse with 'дезинтегрировать' (to disintegrate) – they are opposites.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to mean simply 'mix' in a non-policy context (e.g., 'Let's desegregate the salt and pepper' is wrong).
- Confusing 'desegregate' (end enforced separation) with 'integrate' (actively combine into a whole) – the latter is often the goal of desegregation.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the closest synonym for 'desegregate' in a historical US context?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Desegregate' specifically means to remove legal or formal barriers that separate groups. 'Integrate' is broader, implying a positive mixing and inclusion into a unified whole. Desegregation is often a legal step towards integration.
Yes, though it is overwhelmingly associated with racial segregation. It can be used for gender (e.g., desegregating a military academy) or other categories where official separation exists.
While its most famous usage is historical (mid-20th century), it remains a relevant term for describing ongoing efforts to end segregation in any context where it persists de jure (by law) or de facto (in practice).
The noun is 'desegregation'. The related adjective is 'desegregated'. The agent noun (person who does it) is rarely used, but 'desegregationist' exists.
Explore