captivity

noun

cap·​tiv·​i·​ty kap-ˈti-və-tē How to pronounce captivity (audio)
1
: the state of being captive
some birds thrive in captivity
2
obsolete : a group of captives

Examples of captivity in a Sentence

The prisoners were released from captivity. the wildlife refuge raises endangered species in captivity and then releases them into the wild
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.
Billy is often seen bobbing, pacing and swaying — all signs of brain damage caused by years of captivity, the organization said. Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025 The hostages have been in the captivity of militants in Gaza for more than 18 months. Natan Odenheimer, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025 Released from captivity in the opening scene, Willie goes on a murderous rampage over the rest of the film, dancing and snickering after each of his shenanigans. Peter Debruge, Variety, 3 Apr. 2025 In Hell On the 34th day of his captivity, Evyatar David and Guy Gilboa-Dalal were brought to the home. Efrat Lachter, Fox News, 15 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for captivity

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of captivity was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Captivity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/captivity. Accessed 26 Apr. 2025.

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