law of segregation

American  

noun

Genetics.

1. the principle, originated by Gregor Mendel, stating that during the production of gametes the two copies of each hereditary factor segregate so that offspring acquire one factor from each parent.

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law of segregation Scientific  

1. See under Mendel's law

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Etymology

Origin of law of segregation

First recorded in 1940–45

Compare meaning

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

• law of independent assortment vs. law of segregation
• law of segregation vs. independent assortment

Example Sentences

This was where the laws of segregation would sometimes bow down to the laws of survival.

From Literature

Parks is often portrayed as a quiet seamstress bullied by the cruel laws of segregation.

From Newsweek

Instead, he said, "we came back to a very rigid set of racial lines that were being drawn. The laws of segregation were being intensified."

From Los Angeles Times

The great obstacle to be overcome in carrying out the law of segregation consists in the fact that the Hawaiians do not appreciate and refuse to be convinced that leprosy is a communicable disease.

From Project Gutenberg

The laws of segregation began to fall away; the voting rolls of blacks in the South began to fill.

From Washington Post