Word
servitude
Phoneticsservi·tude
US/ˈsɝvəˌtud/
UK/sˈɜːvɪtjˌuːd/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. the state of being a slave or being forced to obey someone else. It describes a life where you have no freedom and must work for another person.
n. the state of being a slave or completely subject to someone more powerful. Often used in legal or historical contexts to describe involuntary labor or the lack of personal autonomy.
Examples
“The prisoners were forced into a life of servitude.”
“After the war, many people were sold into domestic servitude and lost all their legal rights.”
“The philosopher argued that extreme economic dependence on a single employer is merely a modern, more subtle form of involuntary servitude.”
Examples
simple
“The prisoners were forced into a life of servitude.”
contextual
“After the war, many people were sold into domestic servitude and lost all their legal rights.”
complex
“The philosopher argued that extreme economic dependence on a single employer is merely a modern, more subtle form of involuntary servitude.”
Usage
Often paired with the verb 'sold into' or 'forced into'.
Real-World Examples
“At the time the group forced its captives into sexual slavery, domestic servitude or used them as suicide bombers.” “Prosecutors said that the women acted in "servitude" to Liu and his family, and their lives were tightly controlled by Liu, where they referred to him as "Lord" or "Master".” Etymology
From Middle French servitude, from Latin servitūdō, from Latin servus (“slave”). Equivalent to serve + -itude.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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