servitude

UK: /ˈsɜː^rvɪtjuːd/

US: /ˈsɝvɪˌtud, -ˌtjud/

US: (sûr′vi to̅o̅d′, -tyo̅o̅d′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ser•vi•tude /ˈsɜrvɪˌtud, -ˌtyud/   n. [uncountable]

1. slavery.
2. service or labor required as a punishment for criminals:
   penal servitude.

See -serv-¹.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ser•vi•tude  (sûr′vi to̅o̅d′, -tyo̅o̅d′), n. 

1. slavery or bondage of any kind:
   political or intellectual servitude.
2. compulsory service or labor as a punishment for criminals:
   penal servitude.
3. Law a right possessed by one person to use another's property.

• Late Latin servitūdō, equivalent. to servi-, combining form of servus slave + -tūdō, -tude
• late Middle English 1425–75

Synonyms

• 1. serfdom, thralldom. See slavery. 

Antonyms

• 1. liberty.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

servitude / ˈsɜːvɪˌtjuːd/ noun

1. the state or condition of a slave; bondage
2. the state or condition of being subjected to or dominated by a person or thing
3. a burden attaching to an estate for the benefit of an adjoining estate or of some definite person
   See also easement

Etymology: 15th Century: via Old French from Latin servitūdō, from servus a slave