freedman

noun

freed·​man ˈfrēd-mən How to pronounce freedman (audio)
-ˌman
: a person freed from slavery

Examples of freedman in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In Galveston, freedmen celebrated Jubilee Day just one year later, on June 19, 1866. The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 19 June 2025 The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. Timothy Welbeck, The Conversation, 16 June 2025 African American presence at the site ranges from pre-Civil War enslaved to post-Civil War freedmen. Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 31 Jan. 2024 By September, more than 66,000 whites and freedmen were registered. Arkansas Online, 19 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for freedman

Word History

First Known Use

1587, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of freedman was in 1587

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Cite this Entry

“Freedman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/freedman. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

freedman

noun
freed·​man ˈfrēd-mən How to pronounce freedman (audio)
-ˌman
: a person freed from slavery

More from Merriam-Webster on freedman

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