Meaning & Definition of word "Slavery"
Slavery
/ˈsleɪvəri/
noun:
- 1. The condition of being legally owned by another person, in which a person is forced to work for that owner without pay.
- Example: The history of slavery in the United States is a painful and complex subject.
- 2. A state of being under the control of someone else, often used in a metaphorical sense to describe severe oppression or exploitation.
- Example: Many activists fight against modern slavery and human trafficking around the world.
- 3. The practice or system of owning slaves.
- Example: The abolition of slavery was a significant milestone in human rights history.
Etymology
●From Middle English 'slavere', from Old French 'esclavain', from Latin 'sclavus' meaning 'slave'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
slavery abolition:
The act of ending the practice of slavery.
modern slavery:
Current forms of slavery, including human trafficking and forced labor.
Related Words
slave:
A person who is owned by another and forced to work.
abolition:
The act of ending a system or practice, especially slavery.
freedom:
The state of not being in captivity or enslaved.
oppression:
Prolonged cruel or unjust treatment.
Slang Meanings of slavery
Meaning: Work your fingers to the bone.
● Example Sentence: I’ve been working so much lately, it feels like I'm in slavery, working my fingers to the bone.
Meaning: Wage slave.
● Example Sentence: He feels like a wage slave, trapped in a job with no freedom.