chattel

[ chat-l ]

noun

1. Law. Often chattels. a movable article of personal property.
2. Often chattels. any article of tangible property other than land, buildings, and other things annexed to land.
3. a human being considered to be property; an enslaved person.

chattel

/ ˈtʃætəl /

noun

1. often plural property law
   1. an item of movable personal property, such as furniture, domestic animals, etc
   2. an interest in land less than a freehold, such as a lease
2. goods and chattels
   personal property

Word History and Origins

Origin of chattel¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English chatel, from Old French; cattle

Word History and Origins

Origin of chattel¹

C13: from Old French chatel personal property, from Medieval Latin capitāle wealth; see capital ¹

Synonym Study

See property.

Example Sentences

Wade is just the beginning of the right-wing’s plans to make women second-class citizens and a type of chattel and the property of their husbands, fathers and the other men in their lives.

From Salon

The draft communique says a majority of member states “share common historical experiences in relation to this abhorrent trade, chattel enslavement, the debilitation and dispossession of indigenous people”.

From BBC

In addition to the count for injunctive relief — which was filed against all the defendants — counts of conversion, trespass to chattel and battery were filed against Belanski.

From Los Angeles Times

"When you were a contract player, you didn’t have control over your career . . . You were basically chattel."

From Salon

It has been 159 years since the 13th Amendment was ratified, ending chattel slavery.

From Seattle Times