slavery
n. uncountablen. a system where one person is legally owned by another and forced to work without pay. It also describes any situation where someone is controlled by another person and has no freedom.
n. the state or condition of being a slave; a legal or social system where human beings are treated as property. Often used metaphorically to describe a condition of extreme subjection to a specified influence or habit.
Many countries fought long wars to end slavery.
The museum features a permanent exhibit dedicated to the history of the transatlantic slave trade and the eventual abolition of slavery.
Historians distinguish between chattel slavery, where individuals are legally considered movable property, and other forms of forced labour that emerged in the post-industrial era.
From slave + -ery.
From slaver + -y.
Typically used as an uncountable noun to describe the institution or the state of being; can occasionally be used with an article when referring to specific historical systems.