miscegenation
|mis-ce-ge-na-tion|
/ˌmɪsəˌdʒɛnˈeɪʃən/
mixing of races
Etymology
'miscegenation' originates from Latin roots, specifically from 'miscēre' and 'genus', where 'miscēre' meant 'to mix' and 'genus' meant 'birth, race'.
'miscegenation' was coined in the 19th century (United States), formed from the verb 'miscegenate' plus the suffix '-ation'; it appeared in print notably in an 1863 pamphlet titled 'Miscegenation'.
Initially it meant 'the mixing of races' as a descriptive formation, but over time it acquired political, legal, and often derogatory connotations related to anti-miscegenation laws and racist discourse.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the interbreeding or marriage of people considered to be of different racial groups (racial mixing); historically used in legal and political contexts and often carries negative or charged connotations.
Anti-miscegenation laws prohibited miscegenation in many U.S. states until the Supreme Court struck them down in 1967.
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Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/06 02:26