integration

American  

[in-ti-grey-shuhn] / ˌɪn tɪˈgreɪ ʃən /

noun

1. an act or instance of combining into an integral whole.

   Synonyms:

   combination

2. an act or instance of integrating a racial, religious, or ethnic group.

3. an act or instance of integrating an organization, place of business, school, etc.

4. Mathematics. the operation of finding the integral of a function or equation, especially solving a differential equation.

5. behavior, as of an individual, that is in harmony with the environment.

6. Psychology. the organization of the constituent elements of the personality into a coordinated, harmonious whole.

7. Genetics. coadaptation.

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integration Scientific  

/ ĭn′tĭ-grā′shən /

1. In calculus, the process of calculating an integral. Integration is the inverse of differentiation, since integrating a given function results in a function whose derivative is the given function. Integration is used in the calculation of such things as the areas and volumes of irregular shapes and solids.

2. Compare differentiation

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integration Cultural  

1. The free association of people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds (see ethnicity); a goal of the civil rights movement to overcome policies of segregation that have been practiced in the United States.

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Those favoring integration of schools by such forceful means as busing or affirmative action have frequently argued that integration of schools will lead to integration of society as a whole. (See separate but equal.)

Other Word Forms

• anti-integration adjective
• de-integration noun
• nonintegration noun
• prointegration adjective
• self-integration noun

Etymology

Origin of integration

First recorded in 1610–20; from Latin integrātiōn-, stem of integrātiō “renewal,” equivalent to integrāt(us) “renewed, restored” (past participle of integrāre; integrate ( def. ) ) + -iō -ion ( def. )

Example Sentences

Modern elevator advances give priority to smoother acceleration, energy efficiency and integration with autonomous robots.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

Analysts noted nCino’s strong Q4 finish and its integration of artificial-intelligence agents, despite a price target cut to $19.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

Investors expect Constellation to announce new power deals, detail Calpine integration, and commit to capital returns.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

Strengthening the integration between optical hardware and decoding algorithms will be essential for achieving faster and more reliable data retrieval under real-world conditions.

From Science Daily • Mar. 29, 2026

But on May 24, 1955, the newspapers said the Little Rock school board had adopted a plan to limit integration to Central High School.

From "Warriors Don't Cry: A Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock's Central High" by Melba Pattillo Beals

Related Words

• assimilation