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.
Israel believes that as few as 20 hostages remain alive in Hamas captivity — many in critical condition, with only days left to live. Efrat Lachter , David Hammelburg, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2025 An additional 251 were taken hostage by Hamas, 50 of whom are still believed to be in the group's captivity. Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 July 2025 It’s suspected the snakes were pets, and they were either released by their owners or escaped captivity, the district says. Mark Price, Miami Herald, 9 June 2025 The relationship begins to feel more like captivity than connection. Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 7 June 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

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Cite this Entry

“Captivity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/captivity. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.

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