slavery

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   The system or condition in which people are owned as property and forced to work without pay or freedom.

   Grammar: Uncountable noun; used with singular verbs. No plural form.

   Patterns

   • slavery was abolished
   • the abolition of slavery
   • end slavery

   Slavery was abolished in the United States in 1865.

   The museum documents the history of slavery and its lasting impact.

   Many people fought to end slavery around the world.

2. 2noununcountable

   The state of being a slave; the condition of being owned and controlled by another person.

   Grammar: Uncountable; often used with 'in': in slavery.

   Patterns

   • in slavery
   • live in slavery
   • escape from slavery

   She was born into slavery and never knew freedom.

   He escaped from slavery and became an abolitionist.

   Millions of people were held in slavery during that era.

3. 3noununcountableformal

   Modern slavery: forced labor and human trafficking that still exist today.

   Grammar: Often used in the phrase 'modern slavery' to refer to contemporary forms.

   Patterns

   • modern slavery
   • combat modern slavery
   • victims of modern slavery

   Modern slavery affects millions of people worldwide.

   The charity works to rescue victims of modern slavery.

   Laws against modern slavery have been strengthened in recent years.

Common combinations

abolish slavery

The country abolished slavery in the 19th century.

chattel slavery

Chattel slavery treated people as personal property.

modern slavery

Modern slavery includes forced labor and human trafficking.

in slavery

They lived in slavery for generations.

legacy of slavery

The legacy of slavery still affects society today.

Synonyms and how they differ

bondage

Often used in historical or literary contexts; emphasizes the state of being bound, while slavery focuses on ownership.

servitude

Can refer to forced labor without the full legal ownership of slavery; sometimes used for less severe conditions.

enslavement

The act or process of making someone a slave; more specific than the ongoing system of slavery.

Opposites

Word family

slave noun

A person who is owned by another and forced to work without pay.

enslave verb

To make someone a slave.

slaver noun

A person who trades or owns enslaved people.

antislavery adjective

Opposed to slavery.

Commonly confused: slavery or slave?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “slavery”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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