Segregate vs. Separate — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on April 17, 2024
Segregate involves isolating a group based on specific criteria, often social, while separate refers to the general act of dividing or sorting objects or people.
Difference Between Segregate and Separate
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Segregate often implies a division based on characteristics like race or gender, creating groups that are set apart from each other. Whereas separate can simply mean to divide items or individuals without any implication of discrimination or systematic exclusion.
Segregate is used specifically in contexts where the separation is based on systematic or institutional criteria, particularly emphasizing separation due to inherent characteristics or identities. On the other hand, separate is more versatile, applying to a variety of contexts from sorting laundry to distinguishing different categories in data.
Segregate carries a negative connotation, particularly in historical and social contexts, as it often relates to enforced or unfair isolation. While separate can be neutral or even positive, depending on its purpose, like separating ingredients in a recipe for clarity.
Segregate is less frequently used in everyday language and often pertains to serious or formal issues. Whereas separate is common and used regularly in both casual and formal communication, encompassing a wide range of activities.
Segregate may require legal or formal authority to implement, particularly in institutional settings like schools or public facilities. While separate often involves personal or immediate decisions without the need for authority, such as separating two fighting animals.
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Comparison Chart
Context
Often institutional or systematic
Broad, varying from personal to official
Connotation
Generally negative
Neutral or context-dependent
Usage Frequency
Less common, specific contexts
Widespread, versatile
Requirement of Authority
Usually requires authority or systemic power
Can be informal or personal
Implication of Discrimination
Often implies discrimination or exclusion
Does not necessarily imply discrimination
Compare with Definitions
Segregate
To remove or isolate one element from others.
In the experiment, certain chemicals were segregated to prevent reactions.
Separate
To distinguish between different entities.
The teacher taught students how to separate fact from opinion.
Segregate
To exclude from a group.
The community was segregated based on economic status.
Separate
To disconnect or detach.
He separated the link from the chain.
Segregate
To categorize or classify into separate groups.
The data was segregated by age and gender for the study.
Separate
To cause to move apart or divide.
She separated the papers into two stacks.
Segregate
To set apart from others or from the general mass; isolate.
The school decided to segregate the younger students during lunchtime.
Separate
To sort into groups.
The laundry was separated by color and fabric type.
Segregate
To separate or isolate from others or from a main body or group.
Separate
To become distinct and independent.
Over time, the colonies separated from the empire.
Segregate
To become separated or distinguished
Animals that segregate into male and female herds when not in mating season.
Separate
To set, force, or keep apart
The referee separated the two boxers.
Segregate
To practice a policy of racial segregation.
Separate
To put space between; space apart or scatter
Small farms that were separated one from another by miles of open land.
Segregate
(Genetics) To undergo genetic segregation.
Separate
To form a border or barrier between (two areas or groups)
A hedge separates the two yards.
Segregate
Separated; isolated.
Separate
To place in different groups; sort
Separate mail by postal zones.
Segregate
One that is or has been segregated.
Separate
To differentiate or discriminate between; distinguish
A researcher who separated the various ethnic components of the population sample.
Segregate
(Genetics) See segregant.
Separate
To cause to be distinct or different
His natural talent separates him from all the others in the choir.
Segregate
Separate; select.
Separate
To remove from a mixture or combination; isolate.
Segregate
(botany) Separated from others of the same kind.
Separate
To cause (one person) to stop living with another, or to cause (a couple) to stop living together, often by decree
She was separated from her husband last year. The couple have been separated for a year.
Segregate
(geology) Separate from a mass and collected together along lines of fraction.
Separate
To terminate a contractual relationship with (someone); discharge.
Segregate
(transitive) To separate, especially by social policies that directly or indirectly keep races or ethnic groups apart.
Separate
To come apart; become detached
The lining has separated from the inside of the coat.
Segregate
Separate; select.
Separate
To withdraw or break away
The state threatened to separate from the Union.
Segregate
Separated from others of the same kind.
Separate
To part company; go away from each other; disperse
The friends separated at the end of the school year.
Segregate
To separate from others; to set apart.
They are still segregated, Christians from Christians, under odious designations.
Separate
To stop living together as a couple
They separated after 10 years of marriage.
Segregate
To separate from a mass, and collect together about centers or along lines of fracture, as in the process of crystallization or solidification.
Separate
To become divided into components or parts
Oil and water tend to separate.
Segregate
Separate by race or religion; practice a policy of racial segregation;
This neighborhood is segregated
We don't segregate in this county
Separate
Not touching or adjoined; detached
The garage is separate from the house.
Segregate
Divide from the main body or mass and collect;
Many towns segregated into new counties
Experiments show clearly that genes segregate
Separate
Existing or considered as an independent entity
The reference collection is separate from the rest of the library.
Segregate
Separate or isolate (one thing) from another and place in a group apart from others;
The sun degregates the carbon
Large mining claims are segregated into smaller claims
Separate
Dissimilar from all others; distinct or individual
A cable made of many separate fibers.
Two people who hold separate views on the issue.
Separate
Often Separate Having undergone schism or estrangement from a parent body
Separate churches.
Separate
A garment, such as a skirt, jacket, or pair of slacks, that may be purchased separately and worn in various combinations with other garments.
Separate
A stereo component that is purchased separately and connected to other components as part of a system.
Separate
An offprint of an article.
Separate
Apart from (the rest); not connected to or attached to (anything else).
This chair can be disassembled into five separate pieces.
Separate
(followed by “from”) Not together (with); not united (to).
I try to keep my personal life separate from work.
Separate
(transitive) To divide (a thing) into separate parts.
Separate the articles from the headings.
Separate
(transitive) To disunite from a group or mass; to disconnect.
Separate
(transitive) To cause (things or people) to be separate.
If the kids get too noisy, separate them for a few minutes.
Separate
(intransitive) To divide itself into separate pieces or substances.
The sauce will separate if you don't keep stirring.
Separate
(obsolete) To set apart; to select from among others, as for a special use or service.
Separate
Anything that is sold by itself, especially articles of clothing such as blouses, skirts, jackets, and pants.
Separate
(bibliography) A printing of an article from a periodical as its own distinct publication and distributed independently, often with different page numbers.
Separate
To disunite; to divide; to disconnect; to sever; to part in any manner.
From the fine gold I separate the alloy.
Separate thyself, I pray thee, from me.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Separate
To come between; to keep apart by occupying the space between; to lie between; as, the Mediterranean Sea separates Europe and Africa.
Separate
To set apart; to select from among others, as for a special use or service.
Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called thaem.
Separate
To part; to become disunited; to be disconnected; to withdraw from one another; as, the family separated.
Separate
Divided from another or others; disjoined; disconnected; separated; - said of things once connected.
Him that was separate from his brethren.
Separate
Unconnected; not united or associated; distinct; - said of things that have not been connected.
For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinnere.
Separate
Disunited from the body; disembodied; as, a separate spirit; the separate state of souls.
Separate
A separately printed article that originally appeared in a larger publication
Separate
A garment that can be purchased separately and worn in combinations with other garments
Separate
Act as a barrier between; stand between;
The mountain range divides the two countries
Separate
Force, take, or pull apart;
He separated the fighting children
Moses parted the Red Sea
Separate
Mark as different;
We distinguish several kinds of maple
Separate
Separate into parts or portions;
Divide the cake into three equal parts
The British carved up the Ottoman Empire after World War I
Separate
Come apart;
The two pieces that we had glued separated
Separate
Divide into components or constituents;
Separate the wheat from the chaff
Separate
Arrange or order by classes or categories;
How would you classify these pottery shards--are they prehistoric?
Separate
Become separated into pieces or fragments;
The figurine broke
The freshly baked loaf fell apart
Separate
Make a division or separation
Separate
Discontinue an association or relation; go different ways;
The business partners broke over a tax question
The couple separated after 25 years of marriage
My friend and I split up
Separate
Go one's own away; move apart;
The friends separated after the party
Separate
Divide into two or more branches so as to form a fork;
The road forks
Separate
Independent; not united or joint;
A problem consisting of two separate issues
They went their separate ways
Formed a separate church
Separate
Individual and distinct;
Pegged down each separate branch to the earth
A gift for every single child
Separate
Standing apart; not attached to or supported by anything;
A freestanding bell tower
A house with a separate garage
Separate
Not living together as man and wife;
Decided to live apart
Maintaining separate households
They are separated
Separate
Characteristic of or meant for a single person or thing;
An individual serving
Separate rooms
Single occupancy
A single bed
Separate
Separated according to race, sex, class, or religion;
Separate but equal
Girls and boys in separate classes
Separate
Have the connection undone; having become separate
Common Curiosities
What are the historical implications of segregate?
Historically, "segregate" has been associated with policies like apartheid and segregation in the United States, where it was legally enforced to keep racial groups apart.
Can segregate ever be used in a positive context?
It is rare; however, "segregate" can be used positively in contexts like environmental science, where certain materials are segregated for recycling purposes to ensure proper processing.
How does one decide when to use segregate vs. separate in writing?
The choice depends on the context; "segregate" is used for enforced or systematic separation based on inherent characteristics, while "separate" is more general and neutral.
Does separate always involve physical distance?
No, "separate" can also refer to conceptual or categorical distinctions, not just physical distance, such as separating ideas or plans.
Is there a psychological impact associated with the term segregate?
Yes, "segregate" can have a psychological impact, often negative, as it implies exclusion and can affect individuals’ sense of belonging and identity.
What role does intention play in the use of segregate vs. separate?
Intention is key; "segregate" often implies a deliberate action to isolate, often with negative connotations, whereas "separate" can be more incidental or neutral.
Can cultural differences influence the use of segregate vs. separate?
Yes, cultural perspectives on race, religion, and social norms can influence how and when these terms are used, and misunderstandings can occur if cultural contexts are not considered.
How does technology use these terms differently?
In technology, "separate" often relates to organizing data or systems, whereas "segregate" might be used in specific contexts like cybersecurity, to isolate certain data or networks for protection.
Are there synonyms that can replace segregate or separate without changing the meaning?
For "segregate," synonyms like "isolate" or "quarantine" might work in specific contexts, and for "separate," words like "divide" or "part" are often suitable.
Can segregate and separate be used interchangeably in legal documents?
Generally no, because "segregate" has specific legal and ethical implications especially related to discrimination and civil rights.
What is a non-discriminatory use of segregate?
In technical settings like waste management, "segregate" is used non-discriminatorily to refer to the separation of types of waste for safety and efficiency.
How do the terms relate to social policies?
"Segregate" is often used in discussions of social policies that involve exclusion or protection of certain groups, whereas "separate" might be used more broadly in policies about organization or administration without inherent bias.
What visual imagery might one associate with segregate and separate?
"Segregate" might conjure images of barriers or divided areas, while "separate" might evoke images of sorting or organizing items into different categories.
What are the consequences of not properly understanding the difference between these terms in a professional setting?
Misunderstanding these terms can lead to communication errors, potentially causing offense or legal issues, especially if "segregate" is used incorrectly due to its strong negative connotations.
What future changes in usage might we expect for these terms?
Usage may evolve as societal attitudes towards discrimination and segregation change, potentially leading to a decline in the use of "segregate" in favor of more neutral terms like "separate".
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
