Servitude: meaning, definitions and examples

Servitude usually refers to a state of being subject to someone more powerful, often through labor or service, though it can also include legal or voluntary agreements. It doesn't carry as strong a negative connotation as other words in this group.

• The workers lived in conditions of servitude, working long hours for meager pay.
• Servitude can sometimes be voluntary, as seen in historical apprenticeship agreements.

Slavery refers directly to the condition in which individuals are owned and forced to work without freedom. It has a very strong and negative connotation due to its historical context.

• Slavery was abolished in the 19th century in many parts of the world.
• The museum has an exhibit on the history of slavery and its impact on society.

Bondage emphasizes physical or emotional constraints, often suggesting a lack of freedom. The term has a strong, often negative connotation.

• The prisoner was kept in bondage for many years, unable to escape.
• Many people fought to free themselves from the mental bondage of outdated traditions.

Subjugation implies bringing someone or something under complete control, often through force or coercion. It is commonly used in contexts related to dominance and oppression.

• The subjugation of local tribes by the invading forces resulted in the loss of cultural heritage.
• Her subjugation by the tyrannical ruler sparked a rebellion.

Enslavement denotes the act of making someone a slave or the state of being a slave. It is strongly negative and emphasizes forced compliance and complete loss of freedom.

• The historical enslavement of millions of people resulted in immense suffering and loss.
• The novel depicts the protagonist's fight against her unjust enslavement.