chattel

chat·tel | \ ˈcha-tᵊl

Definition of chattel

1 : an item of tangible movable or immovable property except real estate and things (such as buildings) connected with real property

2 : slave, bondman slaveholders who were determined to hold on to their human chattel

Synonyms & Antonyms What is the Difference Between chattel and slave? More Example Sentences Learn More about chattel

Keep scrolling for more

What is the Difference Between chattel and slave?

The word chattel is encountered in two main senses. The earlier of the two is primarily technical and refers to property, specifically property that is distinct from real estate holdings. The second meaning of chattel can excite considerable emotion, as it refers to humans as property, i.e., slaves. Chattel, slave and the less common bondman and thrall are all synonyms for a person held in servitude by another. Chattel and cattle both come to English from the same source: each is descended from the Medieval Latin word capitale, which itself traces to the Latin caput meaning “head.”

Examples of chattel in a Sentence

at one time, the children of black slaves were also considered chattel packed up all her chattels and moved to a new state

Recent Examples on the Web Incidentally — but maybe not coincidentally — that’s the same passage slave owners once used to convince their chattel to accept their bondage, and Jim Crowe-era preachers used to rationalize segregation. — Kyle Whitmire, al, "Jeff Sessions’ hell on Earth," 24 Oct. 2020 Those power dynamics continue to ebb and flow, but never again will content creators be treated as the chattel of the content owners. — Bruce Ramer, The Hollywood Reporter, "Olivia de Havilland, and the Lawyer Who Helped Her Change Show Business (Guest Column)," 9 Aug. 2020 In the past three years, three states have changed their divorce statutes to treat pets more as family members than as mere chattel to be divided by couples, like sofas and TVs. — Melissa Chan, Time, "Pets Are Part of Our Families. Now They’re Part of Our Divorces, Too," 22 Jan. 2020 Just before the Civil War, 3 of every 4 county inhabitants were human chattel owned by white families. — Bobby Caina Calvan, SFChronicle.com, "Slave cemetery poses questions for Florida country club," 26 Dec. 2019 The insidiousness of chattel slavery, though, was still part of his life. — NBC News, "Meet James and Peter Hemings, America's first black celebrity chefs," 13 Feb. 2020 To qualify, farmers must show at least a 30% loss in crop production or a physical loss to livestock, livestock products, real estate or chattel property. — Andrew Clark, Indianapolis Star, "Indiana farmers eligible for federal assistance after 'unprecedented' year of losses," 10 June 2019 These circumlocutions are meant to emphasize the fact that Africans traded like chattel were not, in their essence, slaves but human beings. — Lionel Shriver, Harper's magazine, "Lefty Lingo," 25 Nov. 2019 Solomon, heartfully portrayed by Chiwetel Ejiofor, becomes witness for the audience to see first-hand the horrors of chattel slavery. — Jason Herbert, Smithsonian Magazine, "What Were the Best History Movies of the Decade?," 31 Dec. 2019

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

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about chattel

Dictionary Entries near chattel

Statistics for chattel

Cite this Entry

“Chattel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chattel. Accessed 22 Jan. 2021.

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for chattel

chattel

noun

English Language Learners Definition of chattel

old-fashioned : something (such as a slave, piece of furniture, tool, etc.) that a person owns other than land or buildings

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

chattel

noun

chat·tel | \ ˈchat-ᵊl

Legal Definition of chattel

: an item of tangible or intangible personal property especially : chattel personal in this entry

Note: In some jurisdictions the term chattel is restricted to items of tangible and movable personal property. Other jurisdictions also classify intangible assets and property items as chattels.

— chattel personal plural chattels personal

: an item of tangible movable personal property (as livestock or an automobile) that is not permanently connected with real estate

— chattel real plural chattels real

: an interest (as a leasehold or profit a prendre) in an item of immovable property (as land or a building) that is less than a freehold estate — compare fixture

Note: Interests that are considered chattels real have been treated by the common law as personal property despite being interests in real property.