hostage

noun

hos·​tage ˈhä-stij How to pronounce hostage (audio)
1
a
: a person held by one party in a conflict as a pledge pending the fulfillment of an agreement
b
: a person taken by force to secure the taker's demands
2
: one that is involuntarily controlled by an outside influence

Examples of hostage in a Sentence

The terrorists demanded a plane and a pilot in exchange for the hostages. The hostage crisis is now entering its second week. The passengers were taken hostage. They were held hostage for several days.
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.
Israel accused the Islamist group of executing hostages in its custody. Nidal Al-Mughrabi, USA Today, 19 May 2025 Israel then began an intensive aerial and ground campaign against Hamas in the densely populated area, vowing to dismantle the group's infrastructure and command chain and return the hostages. Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025 On Saturday, Hamas and Israel started indirect negotiations in the Qatari capital Doha to reach a ceasefire and hostages deal. Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 18 May 2025 Hundreds of protesters rallied Saturday night in Tel Aviv, some holding photos of Palestinian children killed in Gaza, with others demanding a deal to end the war and bring all hostages home. Ibrahim Hazboun, Arkansas Online, 18 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for hostage

Word History

Etymology

Middle English hostage, ostage, borrowed from Anglo-French, "lodging, residence, custody of a person held as security against fulfillment of an agreement, the person so held," from hoste "guest, host" + -age -age — more at host entry 1

Note: The peculiar sense shift apparently arose from the Old French use of hostage in verbal phrases such as prendre en hostage "to take in residence, lodge" in reference to the lodging of a person held as surety; the import of hostage was then transferred to the status of such a person, and finally to the actual person.

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of hostage was in the 13th century

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Cite this Entry

“Hostage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hostage. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

hostage

noun
hos·​tage ˈhäs-tij How to pronounce hostage (audio)
: a person held captive as a pledge that promises will be kept or terms met by another

More from Merriam-Webster on hostage

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