serfdom Definition
the condition of being a serf, where a person is forced to work on a plot of land belonging to a lord and is not allowed to leave without permission.
Using serfdom: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "serfdom" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
Serfdom was abolished in Russia in 1861.
Example
The peasants were bound to the land by serfdom.
Example
Serfdom was a common practice in medieval Europe.
serfdom Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for serfdom
- thralldom
- bondage
- slavery
- servitude
Phrases with serfdom
Example
Feudal serfdom was characterized by the obligation of serfs to work for their lords in exchange for protection.
Example
Russian serfdom was abolished in 1861 by Tsar Alexander II.
a term used to describe the economic and social conditions of sharecroppers and tenant farmers in the southern United States after the Civil War
Example
Many African Americans were trapped in a cycle of American serfdom after the abolition of slavery.
Origins of serfdom
from Old French 'serf', meaning 'slave'
Summary: serfdom in Brief
The term 'serfdom' [ˈsɜːfdəm] refers to the condition of being a serf, where a person is forced to work on a plot of land belonging to a lord and is not allowed to leave without permission. It was a common practice in medieval Europe and was abolished in Russia in 1861. 'Serfdom' extends into phrases like 'feudal serfdom,' which existed in medieval Europe, and 'American serfdom,' which describes the economic and social conditions of sharecroppers and tenant farmers in the southern United States after the Civil War.
