Segregate: meaning, definitions and examples

This word is often used in the context of separating people or groups based on specific characteristics, such as race, religion, or gender. It often carries a negative connotation due to its association with social injustice.

• In the past, laws were created to segregate schools based on race
• Efforts were made to segregate different religious communities

This term is used for making a distinction between two or more things or keeping them apart. It can be neutral or slightly negative depending on the context.

• They decided to separate the recyclables from the trash
• The couple decided to separate after years of marriage

This word is often used when discussing keeping someone or something alone or apart to keep it away from others. It can be used in medical contexts, social contexts, or even in technology.

• Doctors decided to isolate the patient to prevent the spread of infection
• Feeling lonely, she started to isolate herself from her friends

This term is generally used when discussing splitting something into parts or groups. It doesn’t carry a negative connotation and can be used in a variety of contexts, from mathematics to social contexts.

• The teacher asked the students to divide into groups for the project
• The river divides the city into two parts

Used when separating people or things into different groups, often with a negative connotation related to discrimination.

• The policy was criticized because it segregated students based on their abilities.
• In the past, laws were enacted to segregate people of different races.

Used when arranging items in a specific order, usually based on a common characteristic. Often implies a more methodical or logical approach.

• She spent the afternoon sorting her old photos by date.
• The recycling center sorts materials into different categories for processing.

Used when organizing things into categories based on specific criteria or characteristics.

• The librarian needed to classify the new books by genre.
• Scientists classify organisms based on their biological characteristics.

Used when splitting something into parts or groups, which can be either physical or abstract. It may or may not have a negative connotation.

• Let's divide the cake into eight slices.
• The river divides the country into two regions.