white slavery

noun

dated : enforced prostitution

Word History

First Known Use

1857, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of white slavery was in 1857

Dictionary Entries Near white slavery

white slaver

white slavery

whitesmith

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“White slavery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/white%20slavery. Accessed 10 Sep. 2024.

Copy Citation

Share

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Absent Letters That Are Heard Anyway

How to Use Accents and Diacritical Marks
See All

Popular in Wordplay

See All

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

7 Shakespearean Insults to Make Life More Interesting

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

9 Superb Owl Words
See All

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
vector art of man ready to cut messy balls of thread with scissors
Commonly Confused Words Quiz Vol. 2 A quiz to (peak/peek/pique) your interest.