noun A2 Elementary Common

slave

slayv

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Slave (noun) means a person legally owned by another and forced to work without freedom or pay. Example: “In the novel, a slave escapes from the plantation and searches for her family.”

noun

A person legally owned by another and forced to work without freedom or pay.

"In the novel, a slave escapes from the plantation and searches for her family."

"Students read the diary of a former slave and discussed what freedom meant to him."

"The museum exhibit traced the journeys of enslaved people brought across the Atlantic."

A person completely controlled by or devoted to something.

"She felt like a slave to her job, answering emails even on holiday."

"Don't be a slave to fashion just because your friends follow every trend."

"He became a slave to his phone, checking it every few minutes."

A secondary device controlled by another (master) device.

"In this setup, the second speaker acts as a slave and follows the main unit."

"The engineer wired the clock as a slave, so it copied the master's timing."

"The second hard drive is configured as a slave to the primary one."

How to use slave

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishHistorically, a person owned and forced to work by another; today also used figuratively for being controlled by a habit, or technically for a subordinate device.

When to use it

The technology sense ("master/slave" devices) is being replaced in many industries with terms like "primary/replica" due to the word's history.

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: slaves
Third person singular: slaves
Past tense: slaved

Test yourself on “slave” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

In the novel, a _____ escapes from the plantation and searches for her family.

Etymology

From Medieval Latin sclavus ("slave"), from Late Latin Sclavus ("Slav") — a grim legacy of Slavic peoples being forced into slavery in the Middle Ages.

Origin: Late Latin

Synonyms

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captive bondsman thrall drudge striver

Antonyms

master freeman primary

Related words

first control main lord original learn chief professional

Rhymes for slave

ave gave save have wave cave nave pave rave fave Dave weave

See all rhymes for slave →

Frequently asked questions

What does “slave” mean?

The word “slave” means a person legally owned by another and forced to work without freedom or pay. In plain terms, historically, a person owned and forced to work by another; today also used figuratively for being controlled by a habit, or technically for a subordinate device.

How do you pronounce “slave”?

“Slave” is pronounced slayv (/sleɪv/ in IPA).

How do you use “slave” in a sentence?

Here is “slave” used in a sentence: “The museum exhibit traced the journeys of enslaved people brought across the Atlantic.”

What part of speech is “slave”?

“Slave” is a noun.

Where does the word “slave” come from?

The word “slave” comes from Late Latin. From Medieval Latin sclavus ("slave"), from Late Latin Sclavus ("Slav") — a grim legacy of Slavic peoples being forced into slavery in the Middle Ages.

Is “slave” a common word?

“Slave” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

How many meanings does “slave” have?

“Slave” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person legally owned by another and forced to work without freedom or pay.

What is the difference between a 'slave' and a 'servant'?

A slave is a person legally owned by another and forced to work without freedom or pay. A servant is employed, is paid for their work, and keeps their personal freedom, so the key difference is ownership and consent.

What is the difference between a 'slave' and a 'serf'?

A slave is owned outright as another person's property. A serf, under the feudal system, was bound to work the land of a lord but was not owned as an object and could not simply be bought and sold in the same way.

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