bondwoman: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Rare/HistoricalHistorical, Literary, Legal (archaic)
Quick answer
What does “bondwoman” mean?
A female slave or a woman bound in servitude.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A female slave or a woman bound in servitude.
Historically, a woman who is legally bound to serve without wages, often as a form of indentured service or slavery; can metaphorically describe a woman in a position of extreme subservience or lack of freedom.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Usage is equally historical/archaic in both varieties. Spelling is consistent.
Connotations
Equally strong historical and oppressive connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely low and almost exclusively historical in both British and American English. Might appear marginally more in American historical texts due to the history of slavery.
Grammar
How to Use “bondwoman” in a Sentence
[bondwoman] of [owner/master][bondwoman] to [owner/master][verb] as a bondwomanVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bondwoman” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The records show she was bondwomanned to the estate for seven years. (archaic/rare)
American English
- She was effectively bondwomanned by the debts she could never repay. (figurative, rare)
adverb
British English
- She served bondwomany, without hope of freedom. (extremely rare/non-standard)
American English
- [No standard adverbial form exists.]
adjective
British English
- The bondwoman status was recorded in the parish register. (attributive use)
American English
- They lived in bondwoman conditions, with no control over their lives. (figurative)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, sociological, or literary studies discussing systems of servitude, slavery, or gender roles in pre-modern societies.
Everyday
Virtually never used in modern conversation except in specific historical discussion.
Technical
May appear in archival legal texts or historical records as a precise term for a female in bonded servitude.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bondwoman”
- Misspelling as 'bondswoman' (less common variant). Using in modern contexts inappropriately. Confusing with 'bonding' in a positive social sense.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an archaic and historical term. It is only found in historical, legal, or literary contexts discussing periods when such statuses existed.
All bondwomen were a type of slave or unfree servant. The term 'bondwoman' often, but not always,specifically denotes a woman bound by a legal contract (indenture) for a set period, whereas 'slave' is a broader term for a person owned as property, usually for life and hereditarily.
The direct male equivalent is 'bondman'.
The term itself is a neutral historical descriptor. However, due to its association with systems of oppression and lack of freedom, it should be used with sensitivity and precision, only in appropriate historical or academic contexts.
A female slave or a woman bound in servitude.
Bondwoman is usually historical, literary, legal (archaic) in register.
Bondwoman: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɒndˌwʊmən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɑːndˌwʊmən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this word. Related: 'in bondage', 'break the bonds of'.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BOND that ties a WOMAN to servitude. The word is literally 'bond' + 'woman'.
Conceptual Metaphor
SERVITUDE IS BONDAGE. A person is a possession. Freedom is release from chains.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'bondwoman' be MOST appropriately used today?