noun
slavery
SLAY-vuh-ree
noun
1
The practice or system of owning people as property and forcing them to work.
"The abolition of slavery was a defining struggle of the 19th century."
2
A state of being controlled or dominated by something, such as an addiction.
"He described his years of addiction as a kind of slavery."
How to Use Slavery
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe historical system of owning people, or figuratively, being trapped under total control of something.
Common pairings
abolish slavery
sold into slavery
modern slavery
Word Forms
more slavery comparative, slaveries plural, most slavery superlative
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Etymology
From slave plus the suffix -ery.