antislavery

adjective

an·​ti·​slav·​ery ˌan-tē-ˈslā-v(ə-)rē How to pronounce antislavery (audio)
ˌan-tī-
variants or anti-slavery
: opposed to slavery
an antislavery activist
the antislavery movement
antislavery noun
or anti-slavery
a strong proponent of antislavery

Examples of antislavery 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.
Slipping into the throng on the main floor, likely incognito until the time was right, William and Ellen were surrounded on all sides, across the floor and up to the balconies, by antislavery advocates of many colors. BostonGlobe.com, 5 Jan. 2023 The antislavery constitutionalism that Lincoln embraced and helped develop would become the cornerstone for the politics of the Republican Party and in time would ignite southern secession. Sean Wilentz, The New York Review of Books, 13 Apr. 2021 His pro-union, antislavery rhetoric was initially modeled by Abraham Lincoln (who always scores first place in this survey). Petula Dvorak, Washington Post, 20 Feb. 2018 In 1730s Philadelphia, one Quaker's antislavery agitation cost him dearly. Joe Smydo, Philly.com, 5 Nov. 2017

Word History

First Known Use

1811, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of antislavery was in 1811

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Cite this Entry

“Antislavery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/antislavery. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

antislavery

adjective
an·​ti·​slav·​ery
ˌant-i-ˈslāv-(ə-)rē,
ˌan-ˌtī-
: opposing slavery
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