What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
servage
Example
Servage was a common practice in medieval Europe, where peasants were bound to work for their lords in exchange for protection. [servage: noun]
Example
The serfs were trapped in a cycle of servage, unable to leave their masters or improve their social status. [servage: noun]
serfdom
Example
Serfdom was abolished in Russia in 1861, freeing millions of peasants from bondage. [serfdom: noun]
Example
The serfs were treated as property under the system of serfdom, with no legal rights or protections. [serfdom: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Serfdom is more commonly used than servage in everyday language, especially in American English.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between servage and serfdom?
Both servage and serfdom are formal terms that are typically used in academic or historical contexts.
