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proslavery

American  
[proh-sley-vuh-ree, -sleyv-ree] / proʊˈsleɪ və ri, -ˈsleɪv ri /

adjective

  1. favoring slavery.

  2. U.S. History. favoring the continued enslavement of Black people, or opposed to ending or altering the institution of slavery.


noun

  1. the favoring or support of slavery.

proslavery British  
/ ˌprəʊˈsleɪvərɪ /

adjective

  1. in favour of or supporting slavery

"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

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of proslavery

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40; pro- 1 + 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.

When a Kentucky constitutional convention finally did meet, it was dominated by conservatives who actually strengthened the proslavery laws, to Clay’s chagrin.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 3, 2025

In the alleys behind some of those rowhouses, artist Eastman Johnson had spent time with people who were less than pleased about the election of a proslavery Democrat.

From Washington Post • Dec. 17, 2022

His father, Philip, worked for Buchanan’s Democratic Party and lived on F Street NW between 13th and 14th streets, in a largely proslavery neighborhood.

From Washington Post • Dec. 17, 2022

While it did not cause the Civil War, it was the culmination of increasing tensions between the proslavery South and the antislavery North.

From Textbooks • Dec. 30, 2014

In short, the historical record itself, and not just our own omniscient imaginations, provides the requisite evidence from which we can reconstruct the response to the proslavery argument.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

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