captivity
noun
cap·tiv·i·ty
kap-ˈti-və-tē 
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
Keep reading to learn more about Elizabeth Smart’s high-profile abduction case and the revelations from Netflix’s new documentary, including a timeline of her abduction, what happened during her captivity and what led to her miraculous rescue.
—
Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
During Smart’s captivity, Mitchell raped her up to four times a day, sometimes leaving her bleeding, walked her like a dog with a cable around her neck and forced her to drink alcohol to lower her resistance.
—Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
That was my first day of captivity.
—Elizabeth Tsurkov, The Atlantic, 11 Jan. 2026
How did Roper survive captivity after Pine and Burr confirmed his death firsthand?
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for captivity
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Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
During Smart’s captivity, Mitchell raped her up to four times a day, sometimes leaving her bleeding, walked her like a dog with a cable around her neck and forced her to drink alcohol to lower her resistance.
—Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
That was my first day of captivity.
—Elizabeth Tsurkov, The Atlantic, 11 Jan. 2026
How did Roper survive captivity after Pine and Burr confirmed his death firsthand?
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for captivity
Cite this Entry
“Captivity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/captivity. Accessed 25 Jan. 2026.
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