abolitionist

1 of 2

noun

ab·​o·​li·​tion·​ist ˌa-bə-ˈli-shə-nist 

plural abolitionists

: a person who wants to stop or abolish slavery : an advocate of abolition

Before going to England I had had no proper conception of the deep interest displayed by the abolitionists of England in the cause of freedom, nor did I realize the amount of substantial help given by them.

—Booker T. Washington

On the spectrum of abhorrent business practices, buying and selling humans, especially children, remains the gold standard. Yet modern abolitionists say it happens all the time.

—Belinda Luscombe

While with him at an antislavery convention in London, which shocked her by barring women as delegates, she found her ideal model in another delegate, Lucretia Mott, the noted Quaker abolitionist and feminist.

—Milton Rugoff

abolitionist

2 of 2

adjective

: of, relating to, or supporting abolitionists or abolitionism : advocating the end of slavery

abolitionist writings

… the virulence of public reaction to antislavery activity in the East appears to have been a reason for the deployment of abolitionist resources and energies into the Middle West.

—Marilynne Robinson

… he was genuinely concerned with the poor, and an aggressive supporter of abolitionist causes and women's education.

—Jesse Sheidlower

Examples of abolitionist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

As Rankin’s reputation grew as an abolitionist leader, suspicion grew about his activities in the town. —TIME, 2 Dec. 2024

Latest effort to honor abolitionist hero Tubman has long been noted as an icon in American history. —Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY, 12 Nov. 2024

Adjective

It was all meant to honor the spirit of the homeless camps, which, after George Floyd’s murder in Minneapolis, had adopted an abolitionist outlook. —Wes Enzinna, Harper’s Magazine , 5 Jan. 2023

David Livingstone was an abolitionist missionary famed for his explorations through Africa. —Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1791, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1833, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

abolitionist

noun

ab·​o·​li·​tion·​ist

ab-ə-ˈlish-(ə-)nəst

: a person who is in favor of abolishing especially slavery

abolitionism

-ˈlish-ə-ˌniz-əm

noun