in captivity

phrase

of animals
: while living in a zoo
The lions were bred in captivity.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“In captivity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20captivity. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster