enslave

verb

en·​slave in-ˈslāv How to pronounce enslave (audio)
en-
enslaved; enslaving; enslaves

transitive verb

: to force into or as if into slavery : subjugate
The building holds bronze statues of Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass, who were born, and enslaved, on Maryland's Eastern Shore.Evan Osnos
It has long been known that Nordic warriors established outposts more than a millennium ago on Poland's Baltic coast, enslaving indigenous Slavic peoples to supply a booming slave trade, as well trading in salt, amber and other commodities.Andrew Higgins
This oddly contradictory view of artificial intelligence is somehow a perfect symbol of AI's place in our imaginations at this moment in history—something that will eliminate countless jobs, a boost for creativity, an end to drudgery, or perhaps a monstrous force that will take over our planet and enslave humanity.Minda Zetlin
enslavement noun
… the continued enslavement of millions of human beings after President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. Juan Cole
sexual/economic enslavement
enslaver noun
plural enslavers
British goods were shipped to Africa to be exchanged for enslaved captives, who were sold to enslavers in British colonies … Matthew Stallard and Aamna Mohdin

Examples of enslave in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Founded to educate people who had been enslaved, Howard’s mission has been to serve Black Americans who had for generations been systematically excluded from American higher education. Nikole Hannah-Jones, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024 Durkin, a scholar of slavery and the African diaspora, traces them to communities in Alabama established by the formerly enslaved, such as Africatown and Gee’s Bend, and finds in their stories antecedents for the Harlem Renaissance and the civil-rights movement. The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 During the 1890s in Montana, formerly enslaved Mary Fields, more widely known by her nickname Stagecoach Mary, was the first Black woman to carry mail. Essence, 1 Mar. 2024 She was born free, but she was later enslaved by a colored man. Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2024 Black people whose ancestors were enslaved by the Cherokee Nation can now apply for citizenship, the tribe’s top court ruled in 2021. Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2024 Some of the victims said they have been enslaved and sold to work on the farms of RSF commanders, and others recounted being held while their families were forced to ransom them. Hafiz Haroun, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2024 In my view as a sociologist who studies race and ethnicity, part of the legal and systematic effort to maintain Black subservience was based in part on the white people’s fear that formerly enslaved Black people would be rebellious and unwilling to stay on the lower levels of society. Rodney Coates, The Conversation, 20 Feb. 2024 She was enslaved at a young age and began working the field harvesting flax at age 13. Minnah Arshad, USA TODAY, 5 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'enslave.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of enslave was in 1605

Dictionary Entries Near enslave

Cite this Entry

“Enslave.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enslave. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

enslave

verb
en·​slave in-ˈslāv How to pronounce enslave (audio)
: to make a slave of
enslavement noun
enslaver noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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