antislavery

American

[an-tee-sley-vuh-ree, -sleyv-ree, an-tahy-] / ˌæn tiˈsleɪ və ri, -ˈsleɪv ri, ˌæn taɪ- /

noun

opposition to slavery.

adjective

of or relating to antislavery.

The antislavery movement in the United States gained momentum in the early 19th century.

antislavery British

/ ˌæntɪˈsleɪvərɪ /

adjective

opposed to slavery, esp slavery of Black people

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of antislavery

An Americanism dating back to 1810–20; anti- + slavery

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The antislavery movement was central to Seward’s career.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 12, 2026

“There was this perception that antislavery Republicans hadn’t been sufficiently aggressive,” Waite said.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 13, 2025

Southern postmasters instituted a comprehensive censorship of mail to prevent antislavery literature from reaching the South.

From Salon • Jul. 26, 2025

Yes—it was because of the emergence of a mass antislavery public.

From Slate • Jul. 10, 2025

Royal scouted the city jail for runaways the lawyer might defend, ran messages between enigmatic persons, and distributed funds from antislavery societies to relocated fugitives.

From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023