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

On the political pressures faced by the delegates at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia during the summer of 1787, “historians can argue convincingly that the founders failed to make the Constitution a document with clear antislavery implications,” Mr. Ellis writes.

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

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“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.’”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

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

Read more on Salon

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

Read more on Slate