peonage Definition
the practice of making someone work for pay or other requirements until a debt has been paid off.
Using peonage: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "peonage" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The company was accused of using peonage to exploit its workers.
Example
Peonage was abolished in the United States in 1867.
Example
Many immigrants were forced into peonage upon arriving in the country.
peonage Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for peonage
- serfdom
- debt bondage
- indentured servitude
Phrases with peonage
a system of labor that involves forcing workers to pay off a debt by working for an employer
Example
The peonage system was used to exploit workers in many parts of the world.
Example
Many workers were forced into peonage labor in order to pay off their debts.
Example
He was unable to pay off his debt, so he was forced into peonage labor.
Origins of peonage
from Spanish 'peonaje', from 'peon', meaning 'day laborer'
Summary: peonage in Brief
'Peonage' [pee-uh-nij] refers to the practice of making someone work for pay or other requirements until a debt has been paid off. It is often associated with exploitation and forced labor, as exemplified by 'The company was accused of using peonage to exploit its workers.' The term extends into phrases like 'peonage system,' 'peonage labor,' and 'peonage debt,' all of which refer to different aspects of the practice.
