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

Zahavy dissected the process that went into Albert Einstein’s formulation of his General Relativity Theory, noting that the scientist’s thinking evolved through three phases – deduction, induction, and finally, abduction. — Joe McKendrick, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

How can a journalist get grip on a community when they’re hired and then flee, get fired, or become the victim of a space alien abduction? — Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2026

On Friday, the Pima County Sheriff's Department released details from two ransom notes received by Tucson media in the days after the abduction. — Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026

Before his abduction, Anyanwu had heard of people being kidnapped, but had not thought much about it. — Alexis Okeowo, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026

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.