slave-making ant: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical / Scientific
Quick answer
What does “slave-making ant” mean?
An ant species that raids other ant colonies to steal their pupae, which then hatch and work as slaves in the captor's colony.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An ant species that raids other ant colonies to steal their pupae, which then hatch and work as slaves in the captor's colony.
A metaphor for any organism or system that exploits the labor of others through coercion or parasitic behavior.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or usage differences; identical in both dialects.
Connotations
None beyond the technical meaning.
Frequency
Equally rare in both dialects outside of scientific contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “slave-making ant” in a Sentence
The [slave-making ant] raids [a nest].[Slave-making ants] are known to [enslave] other species.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “slave-making ant” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- slave-making behaviour
- slave-making species
American English
- slave-making behavior
- slave-making colony
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphor for exploitative corporate practices (e.g., 'Their business model is like a slave-making ant's').
Academic
Specific term in entomology and behavioral ecology.
Everyday
Extremely rare; only in specific nature documentaries or articles.
Technical
Standard term for ants in the genera Polyergus, some Formica, etc., exhibiting dulosis.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “slave-making ant”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “slave-making ant”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “slave-making ant”
- Using 'slave ant' to mean the same thing (a 'slave ant' is the victim, not the perpetrator).
- Hyphenation errors: 'slave making ant' without hyphens is common but less standard in technical writing.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In modern scientific contexts, it is a standard, descriptive term without intended political connotation, though some researchers prefer 'dulotic ant'.
A 'slave-making ant' is the perpetrator that captures others. A 'slave ant' is the captured worker forced to labor in the foreign colony.
Yes, multiple species across several genera (e.g., Polyergus, some Formica, Strongylognathus) exhibit this behavior.
An ant species that raids other ant colonies to steal their pupae, which then hatch and work as slaves in the captor's colony.
Slave-making ant is usually technical / scientific in register.
Slave-making ant: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsleɪv ˌmeɪkɪŋ ˈænt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsleɪv ˌmeɪkɪŋ ˈænt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He runs that department like a slave-making ant.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'MAKE slaves' – they MAKE other ants work as SLAVES.
Conceptual Metaphor
EXPLOITATION IS PARASITISM / A SOCIETY IS AN ANT COLONY.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic of a slave-making ant?