1
a
: a person held by one party in a conflict as a pledge pending the fulfillment of an agreement
b
: a person taken by force to secure the taker's demands
2
: one that is involuntarily controlled by an outside influence
Examples of hostage in a Sentence
The terrorists demanded a plane and a pilot in exchange for the hostages.
The hostage crisis is now entering its second week.
The passengers were taken hostage.
They were held hostage for several days.
Recent Examples on the Web
More than 1,200 people died and 251 more were taken as hostages into the enclave, before Israel launched an intensive aerial and ground campaign against Hamas in the densely-populated strip.
—
Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025
Fifty-eight hostages remain in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023.
—Ellie Kaufman, ABC News, 25 Apr. 2025
On Wednesday, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas demanded the release of the remaining hostages and the disarmament of the militant group.
—Jade Walker, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2025
Israel’s bombing and invasion of Gaza began in October 2023 in response to Hamas’ October 7 attacks on southern Israel, which killed 1,200 people and resulted in the taking of 251 hostages.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hostage
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Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025
Fifty-eight hostages remain in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023.
—Ellie Kaufman, ABC News, 25 Apr. 2025
On Wednesday, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas demanded the release of the remaining hostages and the disarmament of the militant group.
—Jade Walker, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2025
Israel’s bombing and invasion of Gaza began in October 2023 in response to Hamas’ October 7 attacks on southern Israel, which killed 1,200 people and resulted in the taking of 251 hostages.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hostage
Cite this Entry
“Hostage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hostage. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hostage
noun
hos·tage
ˈhäs-tij 
: a person held captive as a pledge that promises will be kept or terms met by another
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