abolitionist
noun
(especially prior to the Civil War) a person who advocated or supported the abolition of slavery in the U.S.
abolitionists
-
pluralof abolitionist.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
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.
British abolitionists had founded Sierra Leone, a colony of freed slaves in West Africa, but Jefferson thought it was too distant.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
The bill’s stalling is a sign that abolitionists may seem to be on the back foot.
From Slate ● Nov. 21, 2025
Self-proclaimed abolitionists pressed this point when they mobilized in the 2010s.
From Slate ● Nov. 21, 2025
Douglass noted the paradox: For abolitionists Lincoln seemed “tardy, cold, dull, and indifferent,” yet by the measure of public sentiment he was obliged to weigh, Lincoln proved “swift, zealous, radical, and determined.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 2025
After hearing Harriet’s story, Elizabeth’s respect for abolitionists grew.
From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling
