forced labor

noun

1
: very hard physical work that someone is forced to do
The prisoners endured years of forced labor.
2
: a group of people who are made to work very hard for no money
also : a system that allows this
The railroad was built with/by forced labor.

Examples of forced labor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The development could be a harbinger of what’s to come as the USTR gears up to hold public hearings in early July regarding its recent Section 301 forced labor investigations into more than 60 countries. Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 16 June 2026 Opposition to forced labor in prison took many forms. Julia Bowling, The Conversation, 29 May 2026 The report details allegations of rape, child prostitution, forced labor and trafficking linked to mining camps throughout the Amazon. Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 13 May 2026 The code prohibits child labor or forced labor and sets out standards for time off and safe working conditions. Corina Vanek, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for forced labor

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Cite this Entry

“Forced labor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forced%20labor. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.

Legal Definition

forced labor

noun
: the act of providing or obtaining the labor of a person by use of or threat of force, physical restraint, serious harm (as physical, psychological, financial, or reputational), or abuse of legal process
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