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Definition of enslavement

enslavement

/ɪnˈsleɪv.mənt/
en · slave · ment

Plural:enslavements
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enslavement Lexical Profile

enslavement Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The action of making someone a slave, or the state of being held in forced bondage and servitude.

Example

"The museum exhibit documents the history of human enslavement and the long struggle for abolition."


2

A condition of complete psychological, emotional, or habitual dependence on a compulsion, ideology, or influence.

Example

"The author warned against humanity's growing enslavement to digital screens and instant gratification."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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Word Nuance & Usage

In modern historical and academic writing, 'enslavement' is often preferred over 'slavery' when emphasizing the active process and imposition of bondage upon people rather than treating the condition as an inherent state.

• Rhymes for enslavement

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the mid-17th century from the verb 'enslave' and the suffix '-ment'. The root 'slave' derives via Old French and Medieval Latin 'sclavus' from the ethnonym 'Slav', as many Slavic people were captured and sold into bondage during the early Middle Ages.

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Enslavement. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/enslavement
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