# slavery

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈsleɪvəɹi/ · frequency rank #5,083

## Definitions
1. An institution or social practice of owning human beings as property, especially for use as forced laborers.
2. Forced labor in general, regardless of legality.
3. A condition of servitude endured by a slave.
4. A condition in which one is captivated or subjugated, as by greed or drugs.

## Etymology
From slave + -ery.

## Easily confused with
- **slaves** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slavery-vs-slaves)
- **slayer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slavery-vs-slayer)
- **sliver** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slavery-vs-sliver)
- **slave** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slave-vs-slavery)
- **saver** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/saver-vs-slavery)
- **slater** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slater-vs-slavery)
- **savory** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/savory-vs-slavery)
- **shaver** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shaver-vs-slavery)
- **silvery** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/silvery-vs-slavery)
- **Slattery** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slattery-vs-slavery)

## Common misspellings (11)
`lsavery`, `salvery`, `slaevry`, `slaverry`, `slaveryy`, `slaveyr`, `slavrey`, `slavvery`, `sllavery`, `slvaery`, `sslavery`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/slavery