separatism

noun

sep·​a·​rat·​ism ˈse-p(ə-)rə-ˌti-zəm How to pronounce separatism (audio)
: a belief in, movement for, or state of separation (such as schism, secession, or segregation)

Examples of separatism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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There was a shining optimism to its sound, which mixed funk with the ecstasy of gospel, a little rock and a touch of psychedelia — as well as a vision of community and brotherhood that stood out in a period of political separatism. Rob Tannenbaum, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2025 His advocacy for racial separatism and self-defense often put him at odds with Martin Luther King Jr., who preached a message of nonviolence and racial integration, according to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford University. Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 21 Feb. 2025 On September 18, 2023, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that the Indian government had killed Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia over his useless push for Sikh separatism. Daniel Block, The Atlantic, 30 Nov. 2024 Some Black critics, including W. E. B. Du Bois, denounced his Black separatist views and his relationship with the Ku Klux Klan, who shared Garvey's goal of racial separatism. Delano Massey, Axios, 4 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for separatism

Word History

First Known Use

1628, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of separatism was in 1628

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Cite this Entry

“Separatism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/separatism. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

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