market segmentation: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Technical, Business
Quick answer
What does “market segmentation” mean?
The process of dividing a broad consumer or business market into sub-groups of consumers based on shared characteristics.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The process of dividing a broad consumer or business market into sub-groups of consumers based on shared characteristics.
A strategic marketing approach that identifies distinct groups within a target market to tailor products, services, and messaging, thereby increasing efficiency and effectiveness. It can be based on demographics, geography, psychographics, or behaviour.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Spelling follows local conventions (e.g., 'behavioural' in UK, 'behavioral' in US). The term is equally standard in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral technical term in both. Slightly more associated with corporate strategy in US contexts, while UK usage may retain a slightly more academic tone.
Frequency
Equally frequent in professional business and marketing discourse in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “market segmentation” in a Sentence
segmentation of [market] (e.g., segmentation of the automotive market)segmentation by [criterion] (e.g., segmentation by age group)segmentation into [groups] (e.g., segmentation into three key segments)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “market segmentation” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The consultancy will segment the market based on postcode and lifestyle data.
- We need to segment our audience more precisely.
American English
- The team segmented the market into five distinct personas.
- They are segmenting users by in-app behavior.
adverb
British English
- The market was segmented geographically.
- Customers were grouped segmentationally for the campaign.
American English
- The data was analyzed segmentationally.
- They approached the problem segmentationally.
adjective
British English
- The segmentation analysis provided crucial insights.
- Their segmentation model is highly sophisticated.
American English
- We reviewed the segmentation data yesterday.
- A segmentation study is the first step.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Our market segmentation revealed a lucrative niche of eco-conscious professionals aged 30-45.
Academic
The study critiques the ethical implications of hyper-granular market segmentation based on personal data.
Everyday
They don't just advertise to everyone; they use market segmentation to target specific types of customers.
Technical
The algorithm performs dynamic market segmentation using real-time behavioural data points.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “market segmentation”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “market segmentation”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “market segmentation”
- Using 'segregation' instead of 'segmentation' (segregation has negative, social connotations).
- Treating it as a plural noun (e.g., 'market segmentations are' – usually uncountable).
- Misspelling as 'segmantation' or 'segementation'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Segmentation is the process of *identifying* distinct groups. Targeting is the subsequent step of *choosing* which segment(s) to focus on.
The primary bases are: Demographic (age, income), Geographic (location), Psychographic (lifestyle, values), and Behavioural (usage, loyalty).
Yes. Non-profits use it to identify different donor groups, volunteer segments, or beneficiary populations to tailor their communication and services more effectively.
Over-segmentation can make marketing efforts too complex and costly, potentially reducing economies of scale and creating messages that are too narrow.
The process of dividing a broad consumer or business market into sub-groups of consumers based on shared characteristics.
Market segmentation is usually formal, technical, business in register.
Market segmentation: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɑːkɪt ˌsɛɡmənˈteɪʃən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɑːrkɪt ˌsɛɡmənˈteɪʃən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Niche down (related concept)”
- “Slice the pie (related imagery)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a MARKET as a large, whole CAKE. SEGMENTATION is the process of cutting it into different slices (segments) to serve to different groups of people.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE MARKET IS A TERRAIN to be mapped and divided into distinct territories.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary goal of market segmentation?