abduction

noun

ab·​duc·​tion ab-ˈdək-shən 

əb-

1

: the action of abducting : the condition of being abducted

2

archaic : the unlawful carrying away of a woman for marriage or sexual intercourse

Synonyms of abduction

• kidnapping
• rape

Examples of abduction in a Sentence

discredited reports of abductions by aliens

Recent Examples on the Web

Even Milo’s abduction is looked upon as something the women somehow allowed to happen, hence the title, All Her Fault. —Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2025

The five detainees were returned to Japan the following month and reunited with their families – 20 to 30 years after their abduction. —Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025

She's also changed her name to Lisa Mae to honor the relatives who took her in after the abduction. —Erica Marrison, PEOPLE, 3 Nov. 2025

The abduction must pose a credible threat of imminent danger, serious bodily injury or death to the child, according to DPS. —Wren Smetana, AZCentral.com, 2 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin abdūctiōn-, abdūctiō "withdrawal, removal, allurement," from Latin abdūcere "to lead away" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns — more at abduct

First Known Use

1632, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for abduction

• adduction
• conduction
• construction
• deduction
• destruction
• eduction
• induction
• instruction
• obstruction
• production
• reduction
• seduction

Legal Definition

abduction

noun

ab·​duc·​tion ab-ˈdək-shən, əb- 

1

a

: the action of abducting

abduction of a robbery victim

b

: the tort or felony of abducting a person

2

: the unlawful carrying away of a wife or female child or ward for the purpose of marriage or sexual intercourse

Note: Sense 2 has its roots in common law. As statutorily defined, mainly in the nineteenth century, abduction was generally stated to include taking away or detention of a woman under a certain age, usually 16 or 18, with or without her consent or knowledge of her age.