1. people who supported the complete elimination of slavery, especially in the United States before the Civil War
Usage: historical
2. people who advocate for the complete elimination of a practice, institution, or system
Usage: general use

Examples

• The abolitionists worked tirelessly to end slavery in America.
• Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman were famous abolitionists.
• Many abolitionists used the Underground Railroad to help enslaved people escape.
• The abolitionists published newspapers to spread their anti-slavery message.
• Modern abolitionists campaign against human trafficking worldwide.
• Prison abolitionists argue for alternatives to incarceration.
• The abolitionists faced violent opposition from pro-slavery groups.