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Definition of slavery

slavery

/ˈsleɪvəri/
slav · er · y
Adverb:slavishly
•
Plural:slaveries
•
Adjective:slavish
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slavery Lexical Profile

slavery Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The state or condition of being a slave, or the social and legal institution of owning human beings as property and forcing them to work without freedom.

Example

"The abolition of slavery was a defining milestone in nineteenth-century legal and political history."

2

A condition of exhausting, poorly compensated toil, or complete submission to a dominating influence, habit, or convention.

Example

"Critics argued that rigid adherence to outdated traditions amounted to intellectual slavery."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for slavery

• Nearby Words

slaveholder
slaveholding
slaver
slavery
slaveship
slavish
slavishly

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the mid-16th century from the noun 'slave' plus the suffix '-ery'. The root 'slave' derives via Old French and Medieval Latin 'sclavus' from 'Slav', reflecting the historical capture and enslavement of Slavic peoples during the early Middle Ages.

Cite this Entry

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