/ ˌsegrɪˈgeɪʃn; NAmE / noun [ U ]
1.
the act or policy of separating people of different races, religions or sexes and treating them in a different way :
racial / religious segregation
segregation by age and sex
2.
( formal ) the act of separating people or things from a larger group :
the segregation of smokers and non-smokers in restaurants
For more information see the Cultural Guide
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent.: from late Latin segregatio(n-) , from the verb segregare , from se- apart + grex , greg- flock.