slavery
C1Formal, historical, political, academic
Definition
Meaning
A system in which people are legally owned as property by others and forced to work without pay or personal freedom.
A state of subjection or servitude where one is under the complete control of another person, influence, or habit.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily an uncountable, abstract noun referring to the institution or condition. Can be used metaphorically to describe extreme dependence or domination. Historically specific, with immense ethical and social weight.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference. Usage is identical in reference to the historical system. Both nations have distinct historical contexts (e.g., Transatlantic trade vs. antebellum South).
Connotations
Universally negative and associated with grave historical injustice, cruelty, and human rights violations. In both regions, it is a central topic in discussions of history, race, and reparations.
Frequency
Comparably high frequency in historical, political, and sociological discourse in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
slavery to [noun] (e.g., slavery to a habit)slavery in [place/time] (e.g., slavery in the colonies)slavery of [noun] (e.g., slavery of the mind)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Wage slavery (metaphorical for exploitative low-wage work)”
- “In bondage to”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) reporting regarding 'modern slavery in supply chains'.
Academic
Central in history, sociology, political science, and ethics. Used with precise definitions (e.g., chattel vs. debt bondage).
Everyday
Used in serious discussions about history, current events, or metaphorically for overpowering obligations ('I'm in slavery to my mortgage').
Technical
In law: 'laws against slavery and forced labour'; in historical research: specific to systems of legal property in persons.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The empire profited from slaving for centuries.
- They were accused of slaving in the illicit trade.
American English
- The ship was built for slaving.
- He was involved in slaving operations.
adverb
British English
- (Rare; typically not used)
American English
- (Rare; typically not used)
adjective
British English
- The slaving ports of Bristol and Liverpool.
- Anti-slaving legislation was passed.
American English
- The slaving economy of the South.
- A slaving voyage's manifest.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Slavery is very bad.
- Long ago, some people lived in slavery.
- The history of slavery is important to learn.
- Many people fought to end slavery.
- The abolition of slavery was a long and difficult process.
- The economic foundations of the region were built on slavery.
- The legacy of chattel slavery continues to shape socio-economic disparities today.
- Scholars debate the precise role of slavery in catalyzing the Industrial Revolution.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: SLAVE + RY (like 'robbery' or 'sorcery') – the 'state or practice of' being a slave.
Conceptual Metaphor
SLAVERY IS OWNERSHIP (people as property). SLAVERY IS BONDAGE (physical and mental chains). Often a source domain for metaphors describing psychological or economic oppression.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'рабство' (точный перевод) и 'подневольное состояние' (более общее). Избегайте кальки 'слейвери' – это всегда 'рабство'. В метафорическом смысле ('slavery to fashion') можно использовать 'рабская зависимость от'.
Common Mistakes
- Using as a countable noun (*'two slaveries'). Incorrect: 'He was a slavery' (should be 'He was a slave'). Confusing with 'slaver' (noun: slave trader/ship; verb: to drool).
Practice
Quiz
Which term is most historically specific and severe as a synonym for 'slavery'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It shares the core concept of forced labour and ownership, but 'modern slavery' is an umbrella term for contemporary practices like human trafficking, debt bondage, and forced labour, which often exist outside legal frameworks, whereas historical chattel slavery was often legally sanctioned.
No. It is universally pejorative. Any metaphorical use (e.g., 'slavery to duty') carries a strongly negative connotation of excessive, unwanted domination.
Slavery implies legal ownership of a person as property. Servitude is a broader term for a state of being under another's control, which may be contractual or forced, but not necessarily involving legal ownership (e.g., indentured servitude).
Almost never. It is a non-count noun when referring to the system or condition. You refer to 'an instance of slavery' or 'a system of slavery'. The countable form is 'slave' for a person.
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