servitude
Americannoun
-
the state or condition of a slave; bondage
-
the state or condition of being subjected to or dominated by a person or thing
servitude to drink
-
law a burden attaching to an estate for the benefit of an adjoining estate or of some definite person See also easement
-
short for penal servitude
Synonym Usage
See slavery.
Etymology
Origin of servitude
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Late Latin servitūdō, equivalent to servi-, combining form of servus “slave” + -tūdō, -tude
Explanation
If you're free-spirited you won't enjoy servitude, mainly because servitude means you have to answer to a master, like a servant does. Slavery, a brutal form of servitude, existed in the United States until the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865. Before this, thousands upon thousands of African Americans were forced into servitude, where they were forced to perform labor for their masters. A key to remembering the meaning of servitude is the fact that it resembles servant. If your friend rear-ends you but doesn't have insurance, let him pay for the damage in servitude. Make him your personal assistant for a month!
Vocabulary lists containing servitude
13th Amendment (1865)
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Michelle Obama's Speech at the 2016 DNC
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
They are legal filings, but they are also declarations or pleas to a judge: The government simply cannot keep this person locked away or trapped in servitude.
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026
When it was adopted, California’s Article I, Section 18 decreed: “Neither slavery, nor involuntary servitude, unless for the punishment of crimes, shall ever be tolerated in this State.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2026
"Normally in an employment tribunal, the worker has been dismissed, they have no income, they have nothing to live on, and a delay of five years is effectively economic servitude for that person."
From BBC ● May 20, 2026
No-nonsense Maomao, a Tang Dynasty-era girl raised in a brothel who escapes servitude to parlay her apothecary skills in service of the palace, is one of the best female protagonists of all time.
From Salon ● Dec. 19, 2025
Do you know the differences between indentured servitude and g slavery?
From "An Indigenous People’s History of the United States" by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
