a ‧ part ‧ heid /əˈpɑːtaɪt, -teɪt, -taɪd $ -ɑːr-/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
[ Date: 1900-2000 ; Language: Afrikaans ; Origin: 'separateness' ]
the former political and social system in South Africa, in which only white people had full political rights and people of other races, especially black people, were forced to go to separate schools, live in separate areas etc