slavery
SLAY-vuh-ree
Slavery (noun) means the practice or system of owning people as property and forcing them to work. Example: “The museum has a room that explains how slavery shaped many societies.”
noun
1
The practice or system of owning people as property and forcing them to work.
"The museum has a room that explains how slavery shaped many societies."
"Her essay on slavery was praised for its careful use of sources."
"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.
"Her slavery to her phone meant she checked it every few minutes."
"He broke free from the slavery of gambling with help from friends."
"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
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Word forms
- Plural
- slaveries
- Comparative
- more slavery
- Superlative
- most slavery
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The museum has a room that explains how _____ shaped many societies.
Etymology
From slave plus the suffix -ery.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for slavery
See all rhymes for slavery →Frequently asked questions
What does “slavery” mean?
The word “slavery” means the practice or system of owning people as property and forcing them to work. In plain terms, the historical system of owning people, or figuratively, being trapped under total control of something.
How do you pronounce “slavery”?
“Slavery” is pronounced SLAY-vuh-ree (/ˈsleɪvəɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “slavery” in a sentence?
Here is “slavery” used in a sentence: “The abolition of slavery was a defining struggle of the 19th century.”
What part of speech is “slavery”?
“Slavery” is a noun.
Is “slavery” a common word?
“Slavery” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “slavery” have?
“Slavery” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the practice or system of owning people as property and forcing them to work.
What is the difference between 'slavery' and 'servitude'?
'Slavery' is the practice or system of owning people as property and forcing them to work. 'Servitude' is a broader term for a state of being subject to someone else's control or forced labour, which may or may not involve legal ownership. All slavery is servitude, but not all servitude reaches the level of legal ownership that defines slavery.
Can 'slavery' be used figuratively?
Yes. Beyond its literal meaning, 'slavery' can describe a state of being controlled or dominated by something, such as an addiction, as in 'slavery to gambling.' Used this way it stresses a loss of freedom rather than legal ownership of a person.
What is the difference between 'slavery' and 'slave trade'?
'Slavery' is the overall system of owning people as property and forcing them to work. The 'slave trade' refers specifically to the buying, selling, and transporting of enslaved people. The trade was one part of the wider institution of slavery.
