Apartheids

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

  1. A system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination, primarily associated with the policies in South Africa
  2. A political and social structure aimed at maintaining dominance of one racial group over others, restricting rights and freedoms
  3. The practice of enforcing separation and inequality between different racial or ethnic groups in various aspects of life, including living conditions and rights

Etymology: The term emerged in the mid-20th century within the context of South Africa’s system of institutionalized racial segregation. It derives directly from Afrikaans, a language developed in the region from Dutch settlers’ speech. The Afrikaans word combines "apart," meaning "separate," with the suffix "-heid," which corresponds to the English "-hood" or "-ness," forming a noun that denotes the state or condition of being apart. This word was first used prominently in the 1940s and 1950s as the name of the official policy implemented by the South African government to enforce strict racial divisions and discrimination. The policy dictated separate living areas, education, and public facilities for different racial groups, and became internationally notorious for its harsh restrictions and human rights abuses. The root "apart" itself comes from Middle English, from Old French "apart," meaning "separately," which traces further back to Vulgar Latin *aparte, from Latin "partere," meaning "to divide." The suffix "-heid" in Afrikaans functions similarly to the English "-hood" and "-ness," marking an abstract noun indicating a state or condition. Thus, the original compound literally means "the state of being apart." Though the word entered English usage primarily through political discourse and news coverage of South Africa, it retains its original Afrikaans form rather than being fully anglicized. Its plural form, as with many English nouns, is created by adding an "s," signaling multiple instances or aspects of the policy or concept. The word remains closely tied to its historical and cultural origins, with little semantic shift beyond its specific reference to that era and system.

Synonyms: racial segregation, discrimination, segregation, apartheid system

Antonyms: integration, equality, inclusion, desegregation