captor

noun

cap·​tor ˈkap-tər How to pronounce captor (audio)
-ˌtȯr
: one that has captured a person or thing

Examples of captor in a Sentence

The men fought their captors and escaped.
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.
One of them was holding a shovel, forced by his captors to dig his own grave. Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2025 The first episode focused on his escape from Raven, his captor. Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 31 July 2025 Lopes said his wife’s captor had misunderstood the amount of crypto Lopes had. Bruna Horvath, NBC news, 27 July 2025 In June 2005, a 12-year-old girl who had been kidnapped, beaten and missing for a week was found alive after three lions in Ethiopia chased off the captors and protected her. Mark Gray, People.com, 18 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for captor

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin, from Latin capere

First Known Use

circa 1688, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of captor was circa 1688

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Captor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/captor. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

captor

noun
cap·​tor ˈkap-tər How to pronounce captor (audio)
-ˌtȯ(ə)r
: one that has captured a person or thing

More from Merriam-Webster on captor

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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