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bondage

noun
bond·​age | \ ˈbĂ€n-dij How to pronounce bondage (audio) \

Definition of bondage

1 : the tenure or service of a villein, serf, or slave
2 : a state of being bound usually by compulsion (as of law or mastery): such as
a : captivity, serfdom
b : servitude or subjugation to a controlling person or force young people in bondage to drugs
3 : sadomasochistic sexual practices involving the physical restraint of one partner
Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about bondage

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Synonyms & Antonyms for bondage

Synonyms

enslavement, servility, servitude, slavery, thrall, thralldom (or thraldom), yoke

Antonyms

freedom, liberty

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Examples of bondage in a Sentence

a population held in bondage the Civil War ended over 200 years of bondage for black Africans in America

Recent Examples on the Web

 Unless they are explicitly freed, the children of slaves can expect to spend their lives in bondage. — The Economist, "Everywhere in chains," 27 Aug. 2019 There will be the chains of bondage and the pointy hat of the Klan. — Lisa Kennedy, The Know, "Theater review: “Fairfield” at Miners Alley is an ouchy-funny race comedy," 22 July 2019 Use rope, bondage tape, or even a scarf or tie to restrain a partner's hands before going down on them. — Sophie Saint Thomas, refinery29.com, "The Most Satisfying Sex Positions for Lesbians," 20 June 2019 In 1787 white Americans could still indulge in the belief that the historical tide was turning against human bondage. — Nicholas Guyatt, The New York Review of Books, "How Proslavery Was the Constitution?," 6 June 2019 According to Buzzfeed, the two bonded over BDSM, which stands for bondage, discipline, sadism, and masochism. — Blake Bakkila, Good Housekeeping, "Who Is Nicholas Godejohn? Inside Gypsy Rose Blanchard's Relationship With Her Mother's Killer," 3 Apr. 2019 Black bondage existed in Virginia for close to a century longer than black freedom has. — Drew Gilpin Faust, The Atlantic, "Race, History, and Memories of a Virginia Girlhood," 18 July 2019 The nation would not have come into being except for their willingness to preserve African American bondage. — Steve Chapman, chicagotribune.com, "Column: Chicago’s place in the reparations debate," 26 June 2019 Dead Indians to the left and African Americans to the right in bondage. — Jill Tucker, SFChronicle.com, "School board faces mural dilemma: free speech or racial justice," 2 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bondage.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of bondage

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for bondage

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from bonde customary tenant, from Middle English

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More Definitions for bondage

bondage

noun
How to pronounce bondage (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of bondage

formal + literary : the state of being a slave
: sexual activity that involves tying a person up for pleasure

See the full definition for bondage in the English Language Learners Dictionary

bondage

noun
bond·​age | \ ˈbĂ€n-dij How to pronounce bondage (audio) \

Kids Definition of bondage

: the state of being a slave

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More from Merriam-Webster on bondage

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for bondage

Spanish Central: Translation of bondage

Nglish: Translation of bondage for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of bondage for Arabic Speakers

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