Definition

A person who owns or controls slaves.

Example

In the past, a slaveholder had complete authority over the lives of the enslaved people they owned.

Conversation

I was reading a book about history and it mentioned a famous slaveholder.

Oh really? What did it say about them?

It talked about how their actions impacted society at that time.

That's interesting; history can teach us so much about our past.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Slaveholder → It is formed from "slave" (from Old English "sclaf", meaning a person who is owned by another) and "holder" (from Old English "holdan", meaning to keep or possess). A slaveholder is someone who possesses or owns slaves.

Memory Tip

Think of someone who 'possesses' ('holder') another person who is 'owned' ('slave'). This helps you remember that a slaveholder is someone who owns slaves.

Visually Confused Words