middle passage: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
lowacademic, historical, literary
Quick answer
What does “middle passage” mean?
The forced voyage of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas, constituting the middle leg of the triangular trade.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The forced voyage of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas, constituting the middle leg of the triangular trade.
Any arduous, transformative, or transitional journey or experience, often involving suffering and profound change.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage. The term is used identically in both varieties for the historical event.
Connotations
Universally connotes the brutality of the transatlantic slave trade. In extended use, it suggests a difficult rite of passage.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both varieties, primarily encountered in historical, academic, or literary contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “middle passage” in a Sentence
the middle passage + from [place] to [place]the middle passage + of the slave tradea middle passage + through [difficulty]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Central term in Atlantic history, African diaspora studies, and literature courses.
Everyday
Very rare; used only in educated discussion of history or metaphorically in high-register conversation.
Technical
Specific historical term with defined parameters in historiography.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “middle passage”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “middle passage”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “middle passage”
- Using lower case when referring to the specific historical event (should be 'Middle Passage').
- Using it to mean simply 'a passage in the middle of something'.
- Pronouncing 'passage' as /pəˈsɑːʒ/ (like in French).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
When referring specifically to the historical transatlantic slave trade, it is conventionally capitalized as a proper noun (the Middle Passage). In metaphorical use, it is often lowercased.
No, it is exclusively a noun (compound noun). There is no verb form 'to middle-passage'.
The voyage could take anywhere from five weeks to three months, depending on weather conditions and the ship's point of departure and destination.
The neutral-sounding 'passage' belies the extreme violence, disease, and mortality of the journey. Historians use the term because it is the established historical nomenclature, while acknowledging its inadequacy in conveying the horror.
The forced voyage of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas, constituting the middle leg of the triangular trade.
Middle passage is usually academic, historical, literary in register.
Middle passage: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɪd.l̩ ˈpæs.ɪdʒ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɪd.l̩ ˈpæs.ɪdʒ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[to go through] one's own middle passage (metaphorical)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Remember 'MIDDLE' because it was the middle leg of the three-part triangular trade route. 'PASSAGE' was a euphemism for a horrific journey.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A JOURNEY, and a difficult, transformative phase is a Middle Passage.
Practice
Quiz
What does the term 'Middle Passage' specifically refer to?