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Slavery: meaning, definitions and examples

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slavery

 

[ ˈsleɪvəri ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

historical

The state of being a slave; the practice or system of owning slaves.

Synonyms

bondage, enslavement, servitude

Examples of usage

  • Slavery was abolished in the United States in 1865.
  • The abolition of slavery was a significant milestone in the fight for human rights.
Context #2 | Noun

figurative

The state of being excessively dependent on or controlled by something.

Synonyms

control, domination, subjugation

Examples of usage

  • Many people feel trapped in the slavery of addiction.
  • The modern world is often described as being in the slavery of technology.

Translations

Translations of the word "slavery" in other languages:

🇵🇹 escravidão

🇮🇳 गुलामी

🇩🇪 Sklaverei

🇮🇩 perbudakan

🇺🇦 рабство

🇵🇱 niewolnictwo

🇯🇵 奴隷制

🇫🇷 esclavage

🇪🇸 esclavitud

🇹🇷 kölelik

🇰🇷 노예 제도

🇸🇦 عبودية

🇨🇿 otroctví

🇸🇰 otrokárstvo

🇨🇳 奴隶制

🇸🇮 suženjstvo

🇮🇸 þrælahald

🇰🇿 құлдық

🇬🇪 მონობა

🇦🇿 köləlik

🇲🇽 esclavitud

Etymology

The word 'slavery' originated from the Middle English 'sclaueyrie', which was derived from Old French 'esclaverie', and ultimately from Medieval Latin 'sclavus' meaning 'Slav' (referring to the Slavic peoples who were often captured and sold as slaves in medieval Europe). The institution of slavery has a long history, with various forms existing in different cultures and periods. Slavery was widely practiced in ancient civilizations such as Greece, Rome, and Egypt, and continued through the transatlantic slave trade to the Americas. The abolitionist movements of the 18th and 19th centuries led to the gradual outlawing of slavery in many countries around the world.

See also: enslave, enslaved, enslavement, slave, slaveholder, slaves, slavish.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #3,985, this word is part of upper-intermediate vocabulary. While not among the most basic terms, it appears often enough to be valuable for advanced communication.