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.