plural hostages
: a person who is captured by someone who demands that certain things be done before the captured person is freed
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.
—sometimes used figurativelya neighborhood being held hostage to fear [=a neighborhood controlled or dominated by fear]
Cite this Entry
“Hostage.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/hostage. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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