servitude

noun

ser·vi·tude | \ ˈsər-və-ˌtüd

, -ˌtyüd\

Definition of servitude

1 : a condition in which one lacks liberty especially to determine one's course of action or way of life

2 : a right by which something (such as a piece of land) owned by one person is subject to a specified use or enjoyment by another

Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about servitude

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Did You Know?

Servitude is slavery or anything resembling it. The entire black population of colonial America lived in permanent servitude. And millions of the whites who populated this country arrived in "indentured servitude", obliged to pay off the cost of their journey with several years of labor. Servitude comes in many forms, of course: in the bad old days of the British navy, it was said that the difference between going to sea and going to jail was that you were less likely to drown in jail.

Examples of servitude in a Sentence

the Fugitive Slave Act had the effect of returning slaves who had made it to freedom in the North to a brutal life of servitude in the South

Recent Examples on the Web

Wambach could see just how badly the women’s team had been treated—and decided her decades of silence and servitude to the sport were over. — Samantha Leach, Glamour, "Abby Wambach Won't Stop Until the U.S. Women's Soccer Team Gets Equal Pay," 12 Mar. 2019 Eight months after Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox, involuntary servitude became unconstitutional. — Harold Holzer, WSJ, "‘Uncivil Warriors’ Review: Lawyers at Civil War," 29 July 2018 Her autopsy showed malnourishment and broken bones all over her body, and the medical examiner's report cited family members who described a life of servitude for the girl, who had to sleep in a closet and eat dog food. — Jane Wester, charlotteobserver, "Prosecutors to seek death penalty against Erica Parsons' adoptive father | Charlotte Observer," 4 Apr. 2018 Buried in the Centennial State’s 1876 constitution is a provision that technically permits a person to be sentenced to slavery or indentured servitude if convicted of a crime. — Andrew O'reilly, Fox News, "Colorado ballot measure would remove 'slavery' from state constitution," 30 July 2018 Colorado is one of more than a dozen states whose state constitution technically still allows involuntary servitude as a form of criminal punishment. — P.r. Lockhart, Vox, "Colorado passes Amendment A, voting to officially abolish prison slavery," 7 Nov. 2018 Even the members of our community who claim no religious affiliation are familiar with the Biblical narratives that tell of the ancient Israelites fleeing slavery, servitude and oppression in Egypt. — Rabbi Asher Knight - Special To The Observer Editorial Board, charlotteobserver, "Republicans are abusing religion to defend their abuse of children," 19 June 2018 Worry Free, founded by Steve Lift, a Silicon Valley libertarian tech-bro visionary dirtbag (played by Armie Hammer, perhaps too perfectly for his own good), offers desperate people guaranteed food and shelter in exchange for lifetime servitude. — New York Times, "Review: ‘Sorry to Bother You,’ but Can I Interest You in a Wild Dystopian Satire?," 2 July 2018 The Israelites were ambivalent about leaving their servitude behind and more than once expressed a yearning to return to it. — William A. Galston, WSJ, "The Perpetual Battle for Freedom," 3 Apr. 2018

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

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Last Updated

31 Mar 2019

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Time Traveler for servitude

The first known use of servitude was in the 15th century

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More Definitions for servitude

servitude

noun

English Language Learners Definition of servitude

formal : the condition of being a slave or of having to obey another person

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

servitude

noun

ser·vi·tude | \ ˈsər-və-ˌtüd

, -ˌtyüd\

Kids Definition of servitude

: the condition of being a slave or of having to obey another

servitude

noun

ser·vi·tude | \ ˈsər-və-ˌtüd, -ˌtyüd

Legal Definition of servitude

1 : a condition in which an individual lacks liberty especially to determine his or her course of action or way of life specifically : the state of being a slave involuntary servitude

2 : a right by which property owned by one person is subject to a specified use or enjoyment of another —used chiefly in the civil law of Louisiana — see also dominant estate and servient estate at estate sense 4 — compare easement

— apparent servitude

: a predial servitude whose existence is perceivable by exterior signs or works (as an aqueduct or road) on the property

— legal servitude

: a predial servitude that is created by a limitation under the law on the use of the property

— natural servitude

: a predial servitude that arises from the situation of the estates (as from one being situated downhill from another)

— personal servitude

: a servitude that burdens property in favor of a specific named person — see also right of use, usufruct

— predial servitude

: a servitude that burdens one item of immovable property (as a tract of land) in favor of another

Note: A predial servitude is transferred along with the ownership of the dominant estate, and the servient estate is always taken subject to the servitude. A predial servitude cannot be transferred separately from the dominant estate.