serf

Definition of serfnext
as in slave
a person in the past who belonged to a low social class and who lived and worked on land owned by another person Medieval serfs who tended land owned by a lord.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for serf
Noun
  • That's about the legacy of slavery and the monuments commemorating the Confederacy and slave holders and the distortions of history.
    Terry Gross, NPR, 14 Aug. 2026
  • In several instances these rituals were utilized during slave rebellions; the New York slave rebellion of 1712 reportedly began with a pact sealed in blood and powder, a practice with African religious parallels.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • When Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
    The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The 38-year-old heir to a developer dynasty has brought the same raw attitude to his time as a government servant.
    Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 22 Aug. 2026
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.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Serf.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/serf. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster