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chattel slavery

American  
[chat-l sley-vuh-ree, sleyv-ree] / ˈtʃæt l ˈsleɪ və ri, ˈsleɪv ri /

noun

  1. the enslaving and owning of human beings and their offspring as property, able to be bought, sold, and forced to work without wages, as distinguished from other systems of forced, unpaid, or low-wage labor also considered to be slavery.


Etymology

Origin of chattel slavery

First recorded in 1900–05

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.

See Examples For:

This year marks the sixth anniversary of the U.S. honoring Juneteenth as a federal holiday, and 161 years since the day chattel slavery was considered to have ended in this country.

From Salon Jun. 19, 2026

It is further insulting to gestational carriers, genetic donors, and intended parents to suggest that the mutual creation of a child is somehow akin to the bondage of chattel slavery.

From Slate May 13, 2026

It has been 159 years since the 13th Amendment was ratified, ending chattel slavery.

From Seattle Times Feb. 15, 2024

At the beginning of the year, the Church of England and Church Commissioners published research into the Church's deep implication in the transatlantic chattel slavery.

From BBC Aug. 20, 2023

Before democracy, chattel slavery in America was born.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

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