slavery
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the system where people are owned by others as property and forced to work without pay.
the legal or social institution of owning human beings as property, typically for the purpose of forced labour.
Simple“Many countries fought long wars to finally end the practice of slavery.”
In context“The abolitionist movement gained significant momentum in the nineteenth century, eventually leading to the legal prohibition of slavery in many Western nations.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
any situation where people are forced to work against their will and cannot leave.
the condition of being subjected to forced labour or involuntary servitude, regardless of legal status.
Simple“Modern slavery often involves people being trapped in jobs they cannot escape.”
In context“Human rights organisations work tirelessly to identify and dismantle networks involved in modern slavery and human trafficking.”
Synonymsforced labourexploitation - 03 C1 Advanced
a state of being controlled by something else, like a bad habit or a strong feeling.
a figurative state of being captivated or dominated by an external force, such as an addiction or an obsession.
Simple“He felt that his constant need for money was a kind of slavery.”
In context“The philosopher argued that the slavery of greed is often more difficult to escape than physical chains.”
SynonymsAntonyms
“Slavery is not just a thing of the past.”
“Brought to the region to address economic and environmental woes shaped by the ghost of plantation slavery, kudzu was later abandoned as shifting needs rendered the plant unnecessary.”
From slave + -ery.
From slaver + -y.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.