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

kidnapper

2 of 2

noun

kid·​nap·​per

variants or kidnaper

-pə(r)

plural -s

: one that kidnaps

especially : one that abducts a child for ransom

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

Donald had been kidnapped, beaten and killed by klansmen in retaliation for the killing of a police officer – a crime Donald had no involvement in – and to intimidate Black jurors from ruling in favor of Black defendants. — Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026

One of those holding out hope is kidnapping survivor Elizabeth Smart, who was abducted from her home at age 14 in 2002 and rescued nine months later. — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 24 Aug. 2026

As of Monday the number of dead, wounded and kidnapped remained unknown. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2026

The governor was embroiled in a scandal in 2023 involving the Sinaloa cartel, in which his name was published in a letter written by a then-Sinaloa cartel capo whom leaders of a rival faction of the cartel had kidnapped. — CBS News, 23 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

Noun

kid entry 1 (child) + obsolete napper thief, from nap (to seize) + -er

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