segregate
C1Formal, Academic, Technical
Definition
Meaning
To set apart or separate something from a larger group, often based on a characteristic like race, gender, or type.
To cause the separation or isolation of people, groups, or things, especially within a social context where it implies enforced division and inequality. In science/engineering, it can refer to the natural separation of components (e.g., in a mixture).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term carries strong negative historical and social connotations when referring to people, particularly regarding racial segregation (e.g., US Jim Crow laws, apartheid). In neutral technical contexts (e.g., chemistry, waste management), it lacks these negative overtones.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The word is used identically in both varieties.
Connotations
Equally strong negative connotations in socio-political contexts in both varieties due to shared history (e.g., US civil rights movement, South African apartheid).
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English due to the prominence of discussions about racial segregation in US history and current affairs.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
segregate A from Bsegregate A into B and Cbe segregated by/on the basis of XVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(not an idiomatic word)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in HR contexts regarding discriminatory practices or in logistics/operations for separating materials.
Academic
Frequent in sociology, history, political science, and law to discuss systemic discrimination; also in sciences for describing separation processes.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation due to its formal/heavy nature. May appear in news discussions about social issues.
Technical
Used in engineering, waste management, chemistry, and biology to denote physical separation of materials or substances.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The policy aimed to segregate pupils based on academic ability.
- We must segregate the recyclables from the general waste.
American English
- The city's neighbourhoods remain highly segregated by income.
- The machine segregates defective parts from the production line.
adverb
British English
- (No common adverb form. 'Separately' is used instead.)
American English
- (No common adverb form. 'Separately' is used instead.)
adjective
British English
- The segregated cycle path provides a safer route for cyclists. (Note: 'segregated' is the participial adjective)
- They studied in a segregated education system.
American English
- The historically segregated school district is now under a federal order to integrate.
- They provide segregated funds for the project.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The school does not segregate boys and girls in sports.
- Please segregate the glass bottles for recycling.
- Historically, many societies have segregated communities along ethnic lines.
- The new law prohibited landlords from segregating tenants based on family status.
- The study analysed how algorithms can inadvertently segregate users into ideological echo chambers.
- In metallurgy, certain alloys will segregate during cooling, creating zones of differing composition.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'SEGREGATED' school: a group (GREG) is SET apart (SE-).
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIETY IS A CONTAINER (where groups are kept in separate compartments). PURITY IS SEPARATION (keeping things 'untainted' by separation).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with "агрегировать" (to aggregate) which is a near-opposite. The Russian "сегрегировать" is a direct cognate but is highly formal/technical; more common collocations like "racial segregation" are typically translated as "расовое разделение" or "сегрегация".
Common Mistakes
- Using 'segregate' to mean simply 'group together' (it implies setting *apart*). Incorrect preposition: 'segregate in' instead of 'segregate from'. Spelling: 'seggregate'. Confusing with 'aggregate'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'segregate' LEAST likely to carry a negative connotation?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While it carries strong negative weight in social contexts (race, gender), it is neutral in technical/scientific contexts (e.g., 'segregate chemical compounds', 'segregate data files').
'Segregate' focuses on the physical or systemic act of separation. 'Discriminate' focuses on the unfair treatment itself, which may or may not involve physical separation. Segregation is often a result of discrimination.
No. The noun form is 'segregation'. 'Segregate' is only a verb (and the rare, derived adjective 'segregate' as in 'segregate costs').
Adjectivally, 'racially segregated' is extremely common. As a verb, 'segregate from' is the most frequent pattern.
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