de facto segregation

American  

[dee fak-toh seg-ruh-gey-shuhn, dey fak-toh] / di ˈfæk toʊ ˌsɛg rəˈgeɪ ʃən, deɪ ˈfæk toʊ /

noun

1. racial, ethnic, or other segregation resulting from societal differences between groups, as socioeconomic or political disparity, without institutionalized legislation intended to segregate.

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de facto segregation Cultural  

1. Racial segregation, especially in public schools, that happens “by fact” rather than by legal requirement. For example, often the concentration of African-Americans in certain neighborhoods produces neighborhood schools that are predominantly black, or segregated in fact (de facto), although not by law (de jure).

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Etymology

Origin of de facto segregation

First recorded in 1955–60

Compare meaning

How does de-facto-segregation compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• de jure vs. de facto segregation

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

de facto segregation

The Savoy also served as a rare space of racial integration during a period of widespread de facto segregation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 15, 2026

Prosperity, especially for people of color, is tied to America’s ongoing struggle with de facto segregation.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 17, 2024

Goodman’s analysis would be strengthened by looking at other factors that contribute to the erosion of democracy: the persistence of de facto segregation, unequal opportunity and misinformation.

From Washington Post ● Mar. 4, 2022

But de facto segregation has proven harder to banish.

From Salon ● Jun. 26, 2021

Marching in the streets around the mayor’s house, they demanded the firing of the city’s school superintendent and an end to de facto segregation in the city’s schools.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2016