helotism

[ hel-uh-tiz-uh m, hee-luh- ]
/ ˈhɛl əˌtɪz əm, ˈhi lə- /

noun

the state or quality of being a helot; serfdom.
Ecology. the subordinate organisms in an unequal symbiotic relationship.

Origin of helotism

First recorded in 1815–25; Helot + -ism

Example sentences from the Web for helotism

British Dictionary definitions for helotism

helotism
/ (ˈhɛləˌtɪzəm, ˈhiː-) /

noun

the condition or quality of being a Helot
a sociopolitical system in which a class, minority, nation, etc, is held in a state of subjection
zoology another name for dulosis
Also called (for senses 1, 2): helotage