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Wilberforce

American  
[wil-ber-fawrs, -fohrs] / ˈwɪl bərˌfɔrs, -ˌfoʊrs /

noun

  1. William, 1759–1833, British statesman, philanthropist, and writer.


Wilberforce British  
/ ˈwɪlbəˌfɔːs /

noun

  1. Samuel. 1805–73, British Anglican churchman; bishop of Oxford (1845–69) and Winchester (1869–73)

  2. his father, William. 1759–1833, British politician and philanthropist, whose efforts secured the abolition of the slave trade (1807) and of slavery (1833) in the British Empire

"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

Example Sentences

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In 2008, Congress passed the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victim Protection Reauthorization Act, or TVPRA, which provides enhanced protections for children—including immigrant children—who are particularly vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation.

From Slate • Mar. 13, 2025

Wilberforce, Cedarville and Selma were hit along the way.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 2, 2024

"In the early hours of Sunday, some unidentified individuals attempted to break into the military armoury at the Wilberforce barracks. The have been rebuffed," information minister Chernor Bah said in the statement.

From Reuters • Nov. 26, 2023

The country’s president, Julius Maada Bio, said early Sunday that there had been “a breach of security” at the Wilberforce military barracks in the capital, Freetown, as “some unidentified individuals attacked the military armory.”

From New York Times • Nov. 26, 2023

The religious world also was represented at the conference, most notably by the Bishop of Oxford, Samuel Wilberforce.

From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman