captivity
noun
cap·tiv·i·ty
kap-ˈti-və-tē 
Synonyms
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
No proof of life has been offered during nearly 200 days of captivity.
—
Karen Deyoung, Washington Post, 12 Apr. 2024
In part this could be due to public attitudes about animal captivity.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2024
Having been cooped up for far too long, once freed from the fear of sickness and death when stepping outside one’s home, consumers experienced a euphoria akin to being released from captivity.
—Ivan Illan, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
There was a significant question about whether Flaco could thrive outside captivity.
—Ed Shanahan, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2024
Monte’s captivity is brutal, but there’s resilience, too, as both sisters slay old demons and chart new paths.
—Staff, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Mar. 2024
The captivity included an eight-month stretch in which she was entirely confined to the hotel room.
—Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2024
Family members, joined by Israeli war Cabinet member Benny Gantz, carried 134 stretchers, corresponding to the number of hostages believed to remain in Hamas captivity.
—NBC News, 1 Mar. 2024
The humanitarian cost of the war and more than 100 hostages still in Hamas captivity for five months are too much to tolerate for these Israeli protesters.
—CBS News, 17 Mar. 2024
Karen Deyoung, Washington Post, 12 Apr. 2024
In part this could be due to public attitudes about animal captivity.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2024
Having been cooped up for far too long, once freed from the fear of sickness and death when stepping outside one’s home, consumers experienced a euphoria akin to being released from captivity.
—Ivan Illan, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
There was a significant question about whether Flaco could thrive outside captivity.
—Ed Shanahan, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2024
Monte’s captivity is brutal, but there’s resilience, too, as both sisters slay old demons and chart new paths.
—Staff, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Mar. 2024
The captivity included an eight-month stretch in which she was entirely confined to the hotel room.
—Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2024
Family members, joined by Israeli war Cabinet member Benny Gantz, carried 134 stretchers, corresponding to the number of hostages believed to remain in Hamas captivity.
—NBC News, 1 Mar. 2024
The humanitarian cost of the war and more than 100 hostages still in Hamas captivity for five months are too much to tolerate for these Israeli protesters.
—CBS News, 17 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'captivity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near captivity
Cite this Entry
“Captivity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/captivity. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
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