subjugation

[ suhb-juh-gey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act, fact, or process of subjugating, or bringing under control; enslavement:

   The subjugation of the American Indians happened across the country.

Other Words From

• nonsub·ju·gation noun
• self-subju·gation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of subjugation¹

First recorded in 1425–75; from Late Latin subjugation-, stem of subjugatio, equivalent to subjugat(us), past participle of subjugare “to make subject” + -io -ion ( def ); subjugate ( def )

Example Sentences

Eventually, philosophers arrived at the superiority theory of humor, according to which every joke is, at its core, a hostile attack designed to affirm the comic’s dominance and assure the subjugation of its target.

From Salon

One could read into this a subtextual commentary on the subjugation of women found in conservative strains of what Reed refers to as “the big three” — Judaism, Christianity and Islam — or even society in general.

From Los Angeles Times

Moore questioned whether "the feudal spirit will be ever revived on the Western Continent again," describing it as "a social and political authority founded upon the subjugation of a weaker, by a more powerful race."

From Salon

He is strongly critical of what he sees as the official “instrumentalisation” of the 1954-1962 war of independence against France; and of what he sees as the continuing subjugation of women in Algerian society.

From BBC

It is blackness that refuses to accept subjugation, to give up.

From Salon

Related Words

• beating
• blow
• breakdown
• collapse
• debacle
• destruction
• drubbing
• embarrassment
• failure
• killing
• loss
• massacre
• rout
• setback
• thrashing
• triumph