indentured
v. C1 Advanced US //ˌɪnˈdɛntʃɝd// UK //ˌɪndˈɛntʃəd// in·den·tured
v. to sign a legal contract that forces you to work for someone for a set period of time. This was common in the past for people who needed money or were sent to a new country.
v. to enter into a contract of service, typically for a fixed term, in exchange for the payment of a debt or as a condition of immigration. Transitive — requires a direct object.
Many workers were indentured to pay off their travel costs.
The company would indenture young apprentices to ensure they received years of specialized training before leaving.
Historical records show that thousands of laborers were indentured to colonial plantations, effectively binding them to a life of servitude until their debt was fully discharged.