peonage
[ pee-uh-nij ]
/ ˈpi ə nɪdʒ /
noun
the condition or service of a peon.
the practice of holding persons in servitude or partial slavery, as to work off a debt or to serve a penal sentence.
Words nearby peonage
penutian,
penza,
penzance,
penzias,
peon,
peonage,
peony,
people,
people carrier,
people mover,
people person
Example sentences from the Web for peonage
British Dictionary definitions for peonage
peonage
peonism (ˈpiːəˌnɪzəm)
/ (ˈpiːənɪdʒ) /
noun
the state of being a peon
a system in which a debtor must work for his creditor until the debt is paid off
Cultural definitions for peonage
peonage
[ (pee-uh-nij) ]
A system of forced labor based on debts incurred by workers. Peonage developed particularly in plantation economies, where employers forced laborers to buy from employer-owned stores, pay inflated prices, and stay in debt.