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.

The antislavery movement was central to Seward’s career.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 12, 2026

“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.’”

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 13, 2025

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

From Salon • Jul. 26, 2025

Most people who are antislavery are not abolitionists.

From Slate • Jul. 10, 2025

Douglass went on to produce an abolitionist newspaper, The North Star, and traveled to Europe to lecture on the antislavery cause.

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis

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