English Reference
Noun

enslavement

n.
C1 Advanced US /ɛnˈsɫeɪvmənt/ UK /ɛnslˈeɪvmənt/ en·slave·ment UK spelling enslavements

n.the state of being forced to work for someone else and not being free to make your own choices.

n.the state of being held in bondage or forced to serve another person or entity. Often used in historical or legal contexts to describe the systematic control of a population.


SIMPLE

The enslavement of the people lasted for centuries.

CONTEXTUAL

Historians study the enslavement of indigenous populations to understand how colonial powers maintained their control over vast territories.

COMPLEX

The abolition of the legal enslavement of individuals marked a significant turning point in the development of modern human rights and international law.

Muslims came to the Cape through several routes, including enslavement and political exile, from parts of Asia and the Indian Ocean world under Dutch colonial rule from the 17th century.

Al Jazeera· 30 Aug 2026

He stresses that the entire architecture of chattel enslavement was curated by Western slave-owning powers, who simply utilised local actors to help carry out their plans.

BBC News· 16 Aug 2026
This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated