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 abolitionists also assert that women should be punished not for abortion but for homicide.
From Slate ● Apr. 6, 2026
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
Just as the British abolitionists shamed people into not buying the blood-soaked crystals forged in slavery, he told Indians not to buy goods manufactured by their colonial master.
From "Sugar Changed the World: A Story of Magic, Spice, Slavery, Freedom, and Science" by Marc Aronson
