segregationist

Segregationist is a term used to describe a person who supports the policy or practice of segregation—the enforced separation of groups by race, ethnicity, religion, or other characteristics. The term is most commonly applied to advocates of racial segregation, especially in the history of the United States.

In U.S. history, segregationists argued that keeping racial groups apart was necessary for social order or cultural integrity. They backed laws and policies that restricted where people could live, attend school, work, or use public facilities, and they often resisted integration measures such as court orders or civil rights legislation. The Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954 and subsequent civil rights movements prompted resistance from many segregationists, including state and local officials who pursued strategies of delay, opposition, or intimidation.

Outside the United States, the term can describe supporters of other forms of segregation, such as by language, religion, or caste, though racial segregation is its most common association. In modern usage, segregationist is typically a critical or evaluative label, applied to individuals or groups whose aims are to preserve or reintroduce separation rather than equality. The term highlights ideological commitments to separation rather than integration.