Home › Sociology & Social Anthropology › Cultural Assimilation & Pluralism › integration

integration

in-tuh-GRAY-shun /ˌɪn.təˈɡreɪ.ʃən/

nounB2IELTSTOEFLSAT

GeneralPoliticalSociological

The act of bringing together different groups of people and providing them with equal opportunities and rights within a society.

In sociology, integration is often seen as a 'middle ground' where groups interact and share institutions without necessarily losing their distinct identities.

The story behind the word. From the Latin 'integer', meaning 'whole' or 'untouched'. It’s the same root that gives us 'integrity' (being whole in character) and 'integers' (whole numbers). To integrate is to make a society 'whole' by including all its parts.

Word relationships

unification: Unification is the act of making things one; integration is making things work together as a whole while they might remain distinct parts.
desegregation: Desegregation is the removal of barriers; integration is the active building of a shared community.

segregation: The forced separation of groups.
fragmentation: The process of breaking into small, disconnected parts.

Commonly confused with

assimilation: Assimilation asks you to change to fit in; integration asks the society to open up so you can fit in as you are.

Word family

integrate (verb): To combine or be combined to form a whole.
integral (adjective): Necessary to make a whole complete; essential.

Collocations

social integration
economic integration
racial integration
successful integration

Example sentences

"Integration is not merely a matter of proximity; it is a matter of social and spiritual growth." A famous quote on social harmony.
"The successful integration of refugees into the local workforce requires both language training and the recognition of foreign credentials." Discussing economic policy.

Memory hook

Think of an 'Integer'. A whole number. Integration makes a society a whole number instead of a bunch of fractions. Make it whole.

When not to use

Don't confuse with 'desegregation', which is the legal act of ending separation; integration is the social process of actually mixing.

Fun facts

In mathematics, integration is the process of finding the total area under a curve—literally summing up all the tiny parts to find the whole.