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

Last week, dozens of people were kidnapped from a mosque in a spate of abductions at several villages in Nigeria’s north-central Niger state. — Dyepkazah Shibayan, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026

The gang leader is also accused of carrying out the June 11 abduction of James Boyard, a Haitian police officer and security expert who serves as the chief of staff to the minister of defense. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026

A number of people were kidnapped from a mosque in a spree of abductions at several villages in Nigeria 's north-central Niger state, police said Saturday. — ABC News, 22 Aug. 2026

Atiku promised on Wednesday to restore subsidized fuel, while Obi vowed to tackle security challenges such as mass abductions for ransom that threaten the country’s stability. — Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 21 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.