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Middle Passage
noun
: the forced voyage of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas
Examples of Middle Passage in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
African Americans used music from the Middle Passage through slavery, and through other generations.
—Demetrius Patterson, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Oct. 2024
Locally, they are also seen as a tribute to those lost throughout the slave trade due to the proximity to the harrowing Middle Passage, with the shackle-like metal that connects the children’s arms.
—Natalie Preddie, Travel + Leisure, 19 Sep. 2024
Great Britain and colonial slavery Starting in the 1660s, Great Britain brutally transported about 3.4 million Africans to be enslaved in the Americas – with about half a million dying during the harrowing journey known as the Middle Passage.
—Devoney Looser, The Conversation, 14 Aug. 2024
The improvisational elements of jazz can be traced to the Middle Passage from Africa to the Americas, where slaves shackled to the bottoms of ships invented songs, according to Mr. Rabaka.
—Ryan Doan-Nguyen and Aaron Morrison, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 June 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1788, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near Middle Passage
Cite this Entry
“Middle Passage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Middle%20Passage. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
Middle Passage
noun
: the forced voyage of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas
More from Merriam-Webster on Middle Passage
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Middle Passage
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