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.
By late January, the last four escapees were recaptured after being lured back into captivity by peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2025 Advertisement Meanwhile, Michelle, who manages to fish the keys to her chains out of a deceased Don's pocket, has the opportunity to escape her captivity. Megan McCluskey, Time, 31 Oct. 2025 Typically, nonnative species are introduced to areas accidentally through cargo or escapes from captivity. Saleen Martin, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025 The birthday celebration was brutally cut short when Ofir was abducted into captivity, where he was murdered. Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for captivity

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of captivity was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Captivity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/captivity. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on captivity

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!