Meaning & Definition of word "Apartheid"

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    Apartheid

    /əˈpɑːrtaɪt/

    noun:

    • 1. A system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination that was enforced by law in South Africa from 1948 until the early 1990s.
      • Example: The policies of apartheid led to severe social and economic inequalities in South Africa.
    • 2. Referring more broadly to any system or practice that involves segregation or discrimination on the basis of race or ethnicity.
      • Example: Some argue that certain policies in modern society reflect an apartheid-like mentality.
    • 3. A political and social system that upholds the dominance of one race over another through legal and social means.
      • Example: The international community condemned the apartheid regime for its human rights violations.
    • 4. The historical period during which apartheid was legally enforced in South Africa.
      • Example: Many activists fought bravely against the injustices of the apartheid era.
    • 5. Any oppressive system that promotes inequality and restricts the rights of specific groups.
      • Example: The concept of apartheid can be applied to various situations where systemic oppression occurs.

    Etymology

    From Afrikaans 'apartheid', literally 'apartness'.

    Common Phrases and Expressions

    reverse apartheid:

    A situation where a majority group is discriminated against in favor of a minority.

    cultural apartheid:

    The exclusion of certain cultural groups from mainstream society.

    Related Words

    segregation:

    The enforced separation of different racial groups in a country or community.

    discrimination:

    The unjust treatment of different categories of people, often based on race, age, or sex.

    Slang Meanings of apartheid

    Meaning: A term used to describe systemic inequality.

    Example Sentence: The city’s zoning laws are like an apartheid for housing.

    Meaning: A concept referring to social injustice.

    Example Sentence: Many activists argue that economic inequality is a form of apartheid.