slaveholder

American  

[sleyv-hohl-der] / ˈsleɪvˌhoʊl dər /

noun

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

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slaveholder British  

/ ˈsleɪvˌhəʊldə /

noun

1. a person who owns slaves

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Other Word Forms

• nonslaveholding adjective
• slaveholding noun

Etymology

Origin of slaveholder

First recorded in 1770–80; slave + holder

Example Sentences

Such an account would note that he was a slaveholder, but also that he declared the gradual elimination of slavery to be “among my first wishes.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 25, 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

McCrear was separated from her mother at a young age and tried to escape from a slaveholder when she was 3 years old.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 9, 2023

Even though Ona’s father had obtained his freedom around the time she was born, Ona was considered property of the slaveholder under Virginia law.

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