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

• hijacking
• highjacking
• kidnapping
• kidnaping
• rape
• snatch [slang]

Examples of abduction in a Sentence

discredited reports of abductions by aliens

Recent Examples on the Web

This month, Nigeria has been racked by multiple abductions. —Rachel Chason, Washington Post, 31 Mar. 2024

Such varying reports are common in Nigeria’s kidnapping crisis, sometimes because of inadequate recordkeeping or because some hostages escape moments after their abduction. —Chinedu Asadu, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 Mar. 2024

Pye was convicted of murder and other crimes in the November 1993 abduction, rape and shooting death of Alicia Lynn Yarbrough. —CBS News, 20 Mar. 2024

Kaduna state, which borders the Nigerian capital Abuja to the southwest, has grappled with recurring incidents of kidnappings for ransom by bandits and has witnessed several mass abductions in recent years, including in the district where the LEA Primary and Secondary School is located. —Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 13 Mar. 2024

Or that his abduction was a case of mistaken identity. —Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 6 Mar. 2024

There were no fingerprints, and there was no confession and no explanation for how a solitary kidnapper might have orchestrated a toddler’s abduction from a second-floor nursery on a rainy Tuesday evening, while five adults and a dog were in the home. —Tracey Tully, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024

The abduction in Gamboru Ngala was probably carried out by JAS , Samuel said, because their fighters were pushed into the area around the camp following a recent skirmish with the Islamic State group. —Rachel Chason, Washington Post, 31 Mar. 2024

The alleged abduction happened in front of the boy’s older sister, deputies said. —Tanasia Kenney, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2024

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

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.