apartheid

noun

apart·​heid ə-ˈpär-ˌtāt How to pronounce apartheid (audio) -ˌtīt How to pronounce apartheid (audio)
1
: racial segregation
specifically : a former policy of segregation and political, social, and economic discrimination against the non-white majority in the Republic of South Africa

Note: The extreme racial segregation of apartheid lasted from 1948 to 1994 and included such restrictions as where people of certain races (see race entry 1 sense 1a) could live or own land, what jobs they could hold, and who could and couldn't participate in government.

2
: separation, segregation
cultural apartheid
gender apartheid

Word History

Etymology

Afrikaans, from apart apart + -heid -hood

First Known Use

1947, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of apartheid was in 1947

Dictionary Entries Near apartheid

Cite this Entry

“Apartheid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apartheid. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

apartheid

noun
apart·​heid ə-ˈpär-ˌtāt How to pronounce apartheid (audio) -ˌtīt How to pronounce apartheid (audio)
: racial segregation
especially : a policy of racial segregation formerly practiced in the Republic of South Africa
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