Meaning & use
segregationist
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountabledisapproving
A person who supports the separation of racial or ethnic groups, especially in schools, housing, or public facilities.
Grammar: Countable noun: a segregationist, segregationists.
Patterns
- a segregationist
- segregationists
The senator was a known segregationist who opposed civil rights legislation.
Segregationists fought to keep schools racially separate.
In the 1960s, segregationists often clashed with activists demanding equal rights.
adjectivebefore a noundisapproving
Supporting or promoting the separation of racial or ethnic groups.
Grammar: Used before a noun: segregationist policies.
Patterns
- segregationist policies
- segregationist views
The governor's segregationist stance drew national criticism.
Segregationist laws were eventually struck down by the Supreme Court.
Word forms
| plural | segregationists |
|---|
Common combinations
- a segregationist policy
- The segregationist policy kept Black and white students apart.
- a segregationist regime
- The segregationist regime enforced strict racial separation.
- a known segregationist
- He was a known segregationist long before he entered politics.
Synonyms and how they differ
- racist
- A broader term for someone who believes one race is superior; a segregationist specifically supports separation, not necessarily superiority.
- discriminationist
- Rare; refers to someone who practices discrimination, but not exclusively about segregation.
Opposites
Word family
- segregate verb
- To separate groups, especially by race.
- segregation noun
- The practice or policy of separating groups.
Commonly confused: segregationist or segregationist vs segregation?
segregationist vs segregationist vs segregation
'Segregation' is the system or practice; a 'segregationist' is a person who supports it. Don't use 'segregationist' to refer to the policy itself.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'segregationist' correctly?
Choose one answer.
In option A, 'segregationist' is used as an adjective before 'laws'. Option B is wrong because a segregationist would not fight for equal rights. Option C uses 'segregationist' as if it were a noun meaning the act, which is incorrect. Option D uses it as a verb, which it is not.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “segregationist”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.