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Sharecroppers Meaning in English

word · lemma: sharecropper

ˈʃɛɹˌkɹɑpɝz
SHAIR-krah-perz
ʃˈeəkɹɒpəz
SHAIR-krop-uhz

Definition

People, usually farmers, who work someone else's land and give part of the crops as rent. This system was common in the past, especially in the southern United States after the Civil War.

Usage & Nuances

Mostly historical and formal. Usually refers to agriculture in the American South (late 1800s–mid 1900s) but can be used for similar systems elsewhere. Do not confuse with "tenant farmer" (a broader term). Often used in discussions about social history and inequality.

Example Sentences

Many sharecroppers lived in poverty.

basic

The children of sharecroppers often worked in the fields.

basic

Most sharecroppers did not own the land they farmed.

basic

After the war, thousands of families became sharecroppers to survive.

natural

Historians say sharecroppers played a big part in rural communities.

natural

The lives of sharecroppers were full of hard work and uncertainty.

natural