noun
bondage
BON-dihj
noun
1
The state of being enslaved, or forced servitude with no freedom.
"The novel follows a family escaping bondage in the 1800s."
2
The practice of tying or restraining someone, typically for sexual pleasure.
"The shop sells bondage gear alongside other adult items."
How to Use Bondage
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBeing held captive or restrained — historically as slavery, or today usually in a sexual context.
Word Forms
bondages plural
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Etymology
From Middle English bondage, originally meaning serfdom, ultimately traced to an Old English word for a householder or tenant farmer bound to a lord's land.