Word Noun
abolitionist
n.
C1 Advanced US /ˌæbəˈɫɪʃənəst/ UK /ˌæbəlˈɪʃənˌɪst/ abo·li·tion·ist UK spelling abolitionists
Definition
n.a person who wants to end a bad system or practice. In history, this often meant someone who wanted to stop slavery.
n.a person who advocates for the total and permanent removal of a system, practice, or institution. Historically refers to those who sought the immediate end of slavery.
Examples
“The abolitionist worked hard to end the practice.”
“During the nineteenth century, many abolitionists traveled across the country to speak against the institution of slavery.”
“The movement was led by passionate abolitionists who argued that the moral cost of the system outweighed any economic benefits it provided to the state.”
Etymology
First attested in 1788. abolition + -ist.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated