antislavery

American

[an-tee-sley-vuh-ree, -sleyv-ree, an-tahy-] / ˌæn tiˈsleɪ və ri, -ˈsleɪv ri, ˌæn taɪ- /

noun

opposition to slavery.

adjective

of or relating to antislavery.

The antislavery movement in the United States gained momentum in the early 19th century.

antislavery British

/ ˌæntɪˈsleɪvərɪ /

adjective

opposed to slavery, esp slavery of Black people

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of antislavery

An Americanism dating back to 1810–20; anti- + slavery

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

By 1847, he had started The North Star, an important antislavery newspaper.

From Literature

Public opinion on the issue was mixed; there were proslavery Northerners and antislavery Southerners.

From Literature

Neither side, proslavery or antislavery, South or North, was satisfied with the Compromise of 1850.

From Literature

Antislavery and proslavery settlers poured into the Kansas territory to sway the vote on the question of slavery.

From Literature

The antislavery movement was central to Seward’s career.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023