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

New Investigation Discovery series The Serial Killer Connection explores those through the case of true monster Richard Evonitz, who kidnapped and killed at least three teenage girls in the '80s and '90s. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 2 Oct. 2026

Initial efforts, including attempts to kidnap Moïse and have Sanon replace him, failed, McLaughlin said, but Sanon persisted. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2026

Royce Keys, Bronco Nima and Lucien Price set Jey and Jimmy Usos’ car on fire and, last week, kidnapped Solo Sikoa before dropping him off near a beach. — Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026

The belief at this point is that she was kidnapped for ransom, but something happened that left kidnappers unable to present proof of life. — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 29 Sep. 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