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servitude

noun
ser·​vi·​tude | \ ˈsÉ™r-vÉ™-ËŒtüd How to pronounce servitude (audio) , -ËŒtyüd\

Definition of servitude

1 : a condition in which one lacks liberty especially to determine one's course of action or way of life
2 : a right by which something (such as a piece of land) owned by one person is subject to a specified use or enjoyment by another
Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about servitude

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Synonyms & Antonyms for servitude

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

freedom, liberty

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Did You Know?

Servitude is slavery or anything resembling it. The entire black population of colonial America lived in permanent servitude. And millions of the whites who populated this country arrived in "indentured servitude", obliged to pay off the cost of their journey with several years of labor. Servitude comes in many forms, of course: in the bad old days of the British navy, it was said that the difference between going to sea and going to jail was that you were less likely to drown in jail.

Examples of servitude in a Sentence

the Fugitive Slave Act had the effect of returning slaves who had made it to freedom in the North to a brutal life of servitude in the South

Recent Examples on the Web

 Unions say misclassification of workers is a rampant form of servitude while employers say forcing them to put all workers on the payroll will depress job creation and the economy. — Dan Walters, The Mercury News, "Walters: California legislators mull the future of work," 29 Aug. 2019 The places where the social reality of servitude lingers on are mostly in a swathe across North Africa: for example Mauritania, Niger, the Central African Republic and Sudan. — The Economist, "Everywhere in chains," 27 Aug. 2019 Their story marks an important historical transition, as the North American colonies began to turn away from indentured servitude and instead rely on chattel slavery. — National Geographic, "400 years ago, enslaved Africans first arrived in Virginia," 13 Aug. 2019 New Harmony under the Rappites was about religious servitude and faith; under the Owenites, the town worshipped knowledge and equality. — Diana Budds, Curbed, "This small Indiana town is a hotbed of utopianism," 5 Aug. 2019 Sadly, his abusive behavior belies a fundamental corruption that hungers for power and servitude. — Catherine Pilfrey, The Denver Post, "Guest Commentary: A call for resignations and change at Shambhala — the Boulder-born Buddhist organization," 26 July 2019 But where a child’s parentage is known, the status of servitude passes down the generations. — The Economist, "Everywhere in chains," 27 Aug. 2019 But the future that stretches out before her is mired in dismal servitude. — Ron Charles, Dallas News, "'The Doll Factory' is a page-turning Victorian thriller," 13 Aug. 2019 But the future that stretches out before her is mired in dismal servitude. — Ron Charles Critic, Washington Post, "‘The Doll Factory’ is a guilty pleasure wrapped around a provocative history lesson," 6 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'servitude.' 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 servitude

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for servitude

Middle English, from Anglo-French servitute, from Latin servitudo slavery, from servus slave

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More Definitions for servitude

servitude

noun
How to pronounce servitude (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of servitude

formal : the condition of being a slave or of having to obey another person

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

servitude

noun
ser·​vi·​tude | \ ˈsÉ™r-vÉ™-ËŒtüd How to pronounce servitude (audio) , -ËŒtyüd\

Kids Definition of servitude

: the condition of being a slave or of having to obey another

servitude

noun
ser·​vi·​tude | \ ˈsÉ™r-vÉ™-ËŒtüd, -ËŒtyüd How to pronounce servitude (audio) \

Legal Definition of servitude

1 : a condition in which an individual lacks liberty especially to determine his or her course of action or way of life specifically : the state of being a slave involuntary servitude
2 : a right by which property owned by one person is subject to a specified use or enjoyment of another —used chiefly in the civil law of Louisiana — see also dominant estate and servient estate at estate sense 4 — compare easement
— apparent servitude
: a predial servitude whose existence is perceivable by exterior signs or works (as an aqueduct or road) on the property
— legal servitude
: a predial servitude that is created by a limitation under the law on the use of the property
— natural servitude
: a predial servitude that arises from the situation of the estates (as from one being situated downhill from another)
— personal servitude
: a servitude that burdens property in favor of a specific named person — see also right of use, usufruct
— predial servitude
: a servitude that burdens one item of immovable property (as a tract of land) in favor of another

Note: A predial servitude is transferred along with the ownership of the dominant estate, and the servient estate is always taken subject to the servitude. A predial servitude cannot be transferred separately from the dominant estate.

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