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Slaveholder - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

A slaveholder is a person who owns one or more slaves, exercising control over their lives and labor. Historically, this term is often linked to systems of forced servitude, such as in pre-Civil War America.

slaveholder

/ˈsleɪvˌhoʊldər/ /ˈsleɪvˌhəʊldə/

Definition:

A person who owns slaves, historically common in societies practicing slavery.

Synonyms:

slave owner, enslaver, plantation owner

Part of Speech:

noun

Antonyms:

abolitionist, emancipator

Common Collocations:

wealthy slaveholder, cruel slaveholder, Southern slaveholder

Derivatives:

slaveholding, slaveholders

Usage Tips:

Use "slaveholder" to describe historical figures who owned slaves, often in pre-abolition contexts.

Common Phrases:

notorious slaveholder, brutal slaveholder, legacy of the slaveholder

Etymology:

Derived from "slave" + "holder," first recorded in the early 18th century.

Examples:

  • 1. The slaveholder owned hundreds of enslaved people on his plantation.
  • 2. Many slaveholders resisted abolition efforts in the 19th century.
  • 3. The diary revealed the daily life of a 19th-century slaveholder.
  • 4. Historians study how slaveholders justified their actions morally and economically.

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