peonage

[ pee-uh-nij ]

/ ˈpi ə nɪdʒ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR peonage ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the condition or service of a peon.

the practice of holding persons in servitude or partial slavery, as to work off a debt or to serve a penal sentence.

Nearby words

Origin of peonage

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50; peon¹ + -age

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for peonage

What is needed to end slavery and peonage is congressional legislation enforced by Americans.
The Philippines Past and Present (Volume 2 of 2)|Dean Conant Worcester
Many of these acts betokened an intention on the part of the lawmakers to reduce the freedmen to a state of serfdom or peonage.
The Life of Lyman Trumbull|Horace White
Peonage, as it is usually understood, means compelling men to work under duress until debts they may owe are paid.
The Survey, Volume XXX, Number 1, April 5, 1913|Various
And yet the Senator calls this beneficent arrangement Slavery, and then, changing the name, he calls it Peonage.
Charles Sumner; His Complete Works, Volume XI (of 20)|Charles Sumner

The truth is that peonage is repugnant to the average American.
The Philippines Past and Present (Volume 2 of 2)|Dean Conant Worcester

British Dictionary definitions for peonage

peonage

peonism (ˈpiːəˌnɪzəm)

/ (ˈpiːənɪdʒ) /

noun

the state of being a peon

a system in which a debtor must work for his creditor until the debt is paid off

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

Word Origin and History for peonage

peonage

1848, American English, from peon + -age.

Culture definitions for peonage

peonage

[ (pee-uh-nij) ]

A system of forced labor based on debts incurred by workers. Peonage developed particularly in plantation economies, where employers forced laborers to buy from employer-owned stores, pay inflated prices, and stay in debt.