slave trade

noun

: trafficking of enslaved people
especially, in U.S. history : the business or practice of capturing, transporting, selling, and buying enslaved African people for profit prior to the American Civil War

Examples of slave trade in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The demand for cotton goods as part of the trans-Atlantic slave trade played a key role in the rapid industrialization of the city. Lauren Frayer, NPR, 19 Apr. 2025 The tour concludes in Cartagena, a vivacious and historically rich city that was once a major port during the transatlantic slave trade. Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 4 Apr. 2025 Maroon communities—self-sustaining societies created by Africans who escaped enslavement during the transatlantic slave trade—offer a powerful blueprint for leadership, survival, and resistance. Janice Gassam Asare, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025 Enjoy it with bread. 06 Sorrel This is a drink derived from the hibiscus plant that’s indigenous to Africa and was brought to the Americas during the slave trade. Essence, 25 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for slave trade

Word History

First Known Use

1701, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of slave trade was in 1701

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Cite this Entry

“Slave trade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slave%20trade. Accessed 1 May. 2025.

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