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.
Almost immediately, some enslaved people fled their captivity and established small communities in the interior, in a region that came to be called Palmares. Time, 17 June 2025 The soldiers, 21-year-old Paek and 26-year-old Ri, remain in Ukrainian captivity. Joanna Kakissis, NPR, 16 June 2025 Omer Shem Tov was held in captivity for more than 100 days and told CNN he was being intentionally starved while in confinement. Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 29 May 2025 Neither initiative materialized, though Hamas did release the last American citizen from its captivity ahead of the president's trip. Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 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 1 Jul. 2025.

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