serfdom

[ surf-duhm ]

noun

1. the condition of being a serf in a position of servitude, required to render services to a lord:

   He lived in serfdom until 1831 when, at the age of 30, he escaped.

2. the condition or population of serfs taken as a whole:

   Her thesis analyzes the phenomenon of serfdom and the manner in which it changed between 1772 and 1848.

3. servitude of any kind:

   Technology, in the absence of scientific guidance, is a Pied Piper leading us into industrial serfdom.

Word History and Origins

Origin of serfdom¹

serf ( def ) + -dom ( def )

Example Sentences

While some Black Americans used the word “feudal,” others used related terms harkening back to the medieval world, including “vassalage,” “serfdom” and “Dark Age.”

From Salon

China says its intervention ended a "backward feudal serfdom", and denied wrongdoing.

From Reuters

The only way to end this impoverishing of the American people is to stop the inflation that causes this modern-day serfdom.

From Washington Times

China says its intervention ended "backward feudal serfdom" and denied wrongdoing.

From Reuters

China denies wrongdoing there and says its intervention ended "backward feudal serfdom."

From Reuters

Related Words

• bondage
• servitude