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.
As scholars like Amanda Frost, Kate Masur and Martha Jones demonstrate, abolitionists and free Black activists used the concept of citizenship by birthright to make claims of freedom and otherwise challenge inequitable and terrifying circumstances.
From Slate ● Mar. 18, 2026
Known as prison abolitionists, these groups want to see as many prisons close as possible.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 6, 2025
The bill’s stalling is a sign that abolitionists may seem to be on the back foot.
From Slate ● Nov. 21, 2025
Boston’s nonviolent abolitionists failed spectacularly on their own terms.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 9, 2025
When the Joneses reached Chicago, they befriended a group of abolitionists, black and white, working together as “conductors,” assisting slaves to freedom on the hidden tracks of the Underground Railroad.
From "A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919" by Claire Hartfield
