manumission

noun

man·​u·​mis·​sion ˌman-yə-ˈmi-shən How to pronounce manumission (audio)
Synonyms of manumissionnext
: the act or process of manumitting
especially : formal emancipation from slavery

Synonyms of manumission

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Examples of manumission in a Sentence

the official manumission of the slaves came after the Civil War
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.
In parts of the North, Black men served with promises of manumission, unevenly honored. — Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 1 Mar. 2026 Meanwhile, the text suggests that Saulos, his accomplice, engaged in the fictitious sale and manumission of slaves while forging documents to cover their tracks. — Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025 Those would include personal correspondence, sales receipts, deeds of manumission, court filings, certificates of freedom or wills bearing names and signatures. — Jonathan M. Pitts, Baltimore Sun, 31 May 2026 Image The empire had sophisticated systems for tracking slave ownership and collecting various taxes, which amounted to 4 percent on slave sales and 5 percent on manumissions. — Franz Lidz, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for manumission

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin manumission-, manumissio, from manumittere

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of manumission was in the 15th century

Rhymes for manumission

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Browse Nearby Words

manumise
manumission
manumit
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Cite this Entry

“Manumission.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/manumission. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

manumission

noun
man·​u·​mis·​sion ˌman-yə-ˈmish-ən How to pronounce manumission (audio)
: a setting free from slavery : emancipation

More from Merriam-Webster on manumission

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about manumission

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