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.

His conversion to the antislavery cause came suddenly.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 3, 2025

“There was this perception that antislavery Republicans hadn’t been sufficiently aggressive,” Waite said.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 13, 2025

So the conflict of the 1850s doesn’t happen without the emergence of a mass public that is genuinely antislavery and open to more aggressive methods that push back on slavery.

From Slate • Jul. 10, 2025

In 1849, antislavery novelist Richard Henry Dana met Brown and his family in North Elba, NY, and was shocked to find Brown matter-of-factly introducing white and Black residents equally.

From Salon • Dec. 2, 2023

After settling into her new home, Stanton focused on abolition, touring the state and trying to convince others to join the antislavery cause.

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling

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