peonage

noun

pe·​on·​age ˈpē-ə-nij How to pronounce peonage (audio)
1
a
: the use of laborers bound in servitude because of debt
b
: a system of convict labor by which convicts are leased to contractors
2
: the condition of a peon

Examples of peonage in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Further, this much control over the autonomy of an athlete’s rights to their own NIL rights combined with a financial obligation could also trigger scrutiny under the 13th Amendment, which, in addition to abolishing slavery, placed prohibitions on peonage (i.e., working against your will). Joe Sabin, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024 Convict leasing, also called peonage, juxtaposed the infrastructure of the Old English debtor’s prison with the barbarism of chattel slavery to bolster American capitalism. Phillip Vance Smith, JSTOR Daily, 1 Feb. 2024 The Wilberforce Act covers physical abuse and peonage, which is forced labor. Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 6 June 2024 Its darkest depths -- the rise of racial terrorism, convict leasing, debt peonage and more -- are only now being reassessed by millions of Americans whose racial awakening came through the crucible of Floyd's murder and the demonstrations that followed. Peniel E. Joseph, CNN, 6 Oct. 2021 See all Example Sentences for peonage 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'peonage.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

peon + -age

First Known Use

1844, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of peonage was in 1844

Dictionary Entries Near peonage

Cite this Entry

“Peonage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peonage. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

Legal Definition

peonage

noun
pe·​on·​age ˈpē-ə-nij How to pronounce peonage (audio)
: labor in a condition of servitude to extinguish a debt
the holding of any person to service or labor under the system known as peonage is abolished and forever prohibitedU.S. Code

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