kidnap

verb

kid·​nap ˈkid-ˌnap 

kidnapped also kidnaped ˈkid-ˌnapt  ; kidnapping also kidnaping

transitive verb

: to seize and detain or carry away by unlawful force or fraud and often with a demand for ransom

kidnappee noun

or kidnapee

ˌkid-ˌna-ˈpē 

kidnapper noun

or less commonly kidnaper

Synonyms of kidnap

• abduct

Examples of kidnap in a Sentence

the child of the wealthy industrialist was kidnapped and held for ransom

Recent Examples on the Web

The families of two Haitian journalists who were reported kidnapped last week pleaded Monday for information about them, with many fearing that gangs had killed them. —ABC News, 16 Mar. 2026

The 84-year-old was kidnapped from her home in Arizona on February 1. —Hannah Malach, InStyle, 16 Mar. 2026

Best actress Oscar nominee Emma Stone plays Michelle Fuller, a Big Pharma corporate executive who is kidnapped by a pair of conspiracy theorists, Teddy and Don (Jesse Plemons and Aidan Delbis), who believe Michelle is key to an alien plot to take over the world. —David Morgan, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2026

There’s very little in the way of concrete information, even over a month after Savannah Guthrie’s mom, Nancy, was kidnapped. —Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 13 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

probably back-formation from kidnapper, from kid + obsolete napper thief

First Known Use

1682, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for kidnap

• bandgap
• bitmap
• blackcap
• blackstrap
• bootstrap
• burlap
• claptrap
• entrap
• foolscap
• kneecap
• madcap
• mayhap

Kids Definition

kidnap

verb

kid·​nap ˈkid-ˌnap 

kidnapped also kidnaped -ˌnapt  ; kidnapping also kidnaping

-ˌnap-iŋ

: to carry away a person by unlawful force or by fraud and against his or her will

kidnapper noun

also kidnaper

-ˌnap-ər

Legal Definition

kidnap

transitive verb

kid·​nap ˈkid-ˌnap 

kidnapped or kidnaped -ˌnapt  ; kidnapping or kidnaping

-ˌna-piŋ

: to seize and confine or carry away by force or fraud and often with a demand for ransom

kidnapper noun

or kidnaper

-ˌna-pər

Etymology

probably back-formation from kidnapper, from kid child + obsolete napper thief