serfdom

/ˈsɜrfdəm/
noun
  1. The state or system of being a serf; the condition of having to work on a lord's land and being unable to leave.
    • Many peasants lived under serfdom for generations without any hope of escape.
    • The end of serfdom in many countries came through laws and revolutions.
    • Serfdom was a key part of the feudal system in medieval Europe.
  2. A situation in which a person or group is treated as if they have no freedom or rights.
    • The novel describes a dystopian society where most people live in serfdom.
    • Some critics argue that extreme debt can create a form of economic serfdom.
    • The workers felt trapped in a modern serfdom, unable to change their jobs or conditions.