antislavery

[an-tee-sley-vuh-ree, -sleyv-ree, an-tahy-]

noun

1. opposition to slavery.

adjective

1. of or relating to antislavery.

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

antislavery

/ ˌæntɪˈsleɪvərɪ /

adjective

1. opposed to slavery, esp slavery of Black people

Word History and Origins

Origin of antislavery¹

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

Example Sentences

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

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“Any time a cotton gin burned down in the South, they pointed to the Wide Awakes and other more radical antislavery Northerners and said, ‘This is arson.’”

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Southern postmasters instituted a comprehensive censorship of mail to prevent antislavery literature from reaching the South.

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What the Fugitive Slave Act does—and Sumner is part of this—is supercharge what’s called political antislavery.

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Most people who are antislavery are not abolitionists.

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