kidnap

1 of 2

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

kidnappee

2 of 2

noun

kid·​nap·​pee

variants or kidnapee

ˌkidˌnaˈpē 

plural -s

: a person who has been kidnapped

Synonyms of kidnap

Verb

• abduct

Examples of kidnap in a Sentence

Verb

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Adoyi Omale, a lecturer and a politician who lives in Abuja, was kidnapped from his car while driving out of town with his niece and two builders who were working on his home. — Alexis Okeowo, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026

Luca Maggini and the miner were kidnapped by unidentified men in the evening and later killed, according to Frédéric Pounou, a geologist who was working alongside Maggini when he was kidnapped. — ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026

Two ransom notes purportedly sent by those who kidnapped Nancy Guthrie in Arizona earlier this year were released Friday by local authorities hoping to generate new leads in the case. — Tom Winter, NBC news, 1 Aug. 2026

He reportedly was kidnapped by a bearded man driving a blue Ford van, and later, his remains were found in a canal off Florida’s Turnpike in Indian River County. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 1 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

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

First Known Use

Verb

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

Transitive verb

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