slaveholder

American

[slayv-hohl-der] / ˈsleɪvˌhoʊl dər /

noun

an owner of enslaved people in the institution of chattel slavery.

slaveholder British

/ ˈsleɪvˌhəʊldə /

noun

a person who owns slaves

"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 slaveholder

First recorded in 1770–80; slave + holder

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:

slaveholder

It varied somewhat by county, but in almost every case, the person “apprenticing” the child was in fact the former slaveholder.

From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026

Another episode revolves around a significant fine issued to a 68-year-old slaveholder named Benjamin Rice.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026

In 2016, Harvard Law School agreed to change a shield that was based on the crest of an 18th Century slaveholder.

From BBC ● May 30, 2025

“All men are created equal,” wrote slaveholder Thomas Jefferson, in words that have been a source of consternation ever since.

From Salon ● Nov. 10, 2024

Secretary of State James Monroe, another slaveholder and former governor of Virginia, is elected the fifth president.

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023