captivity

noun

kap-ˈti-və-tē How to pronounce captivity (audio)
Definition of captivitynext
as in internment
the act of confining or the state of being confined the wildlife refuge raises endangered species in captivity and then releases them into the wild

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of captivity Today, 160 servicemembers were released from captivity. — Alex Nitzberg, FOXNews.com, 26 June 2026 At least 80 school children are still in captivity after being abducted by militants in the southern and northern regions of the country. — ABC News, 24 June 2026 Investigators suspected the animal had escaped from captivity because pythons are not native to the region, and wild snakes are typically inactive during March. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 23 June 2026 Martian spends the first half of Season 2 trading information with British intelligence in exchange for orchestrating Sami’s safe return from captivity. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 22 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for captivity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for captivity
  1. internment
  2. imprisonment
  3. incarceration
  4. confinement
  5. prison
Noun
  • Established in 1855 as a military post to fight against the Mescalero Apache, the fort went on to play a minor role in the Civil War and later served as a tuberculosis sanitorium and a World War II internment camp.
    — Allison Savage Bates, Denver Post, 19 July 2026
  • The Rohingya still living in Myanmar face severe restrictions and many are confined to internment camps.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 July 2026
Definition of internment
Noun
  • Violating the ban on tattooing the head, face or neck is a misdemeanor offense under state law that carries penalties of a fine of up to $2,500 and/or imprisonment for up to one year if convicted.
    — BrieAnna J. Frank, USA Today, 17 July 2026
  • After his conviction was vacated, Broadwater sued the state of New York for wrongful imprisonment.
    — Joaquin Sapien, ProPublica, 17 July 2026
Definition of imprisonment
Noun
  • Homelessness after incarceration increases the chances that someone will end up back behind bars, at a steep cost to taxpayers.
    — Amber Gaudet July 18, Charlotte Observer, 18 July 2026
  • Ayón works in Sacramento helping people reintegrate to society after incarceration and is also a student at a community college.
    — Albinson Linares, NBC news, 18 July 2026
Definition of incarceration
Noun
  • At least one monitor will focus on the systems for medical care and disability accommodations and the other on the conditions of confinement, according to the order.
    — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 17 July 2026
  • That confinement to our homes changed our preferences for housing.
    — Daryl Fairweather, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of confinement
Noun
  • The two each now face 15 years to life in state prison, if convicted of second-degree murder; or a lesser sentence of up to 11 years per count if convicted of voluntary manslaughter.
    — Darrell Smith July 16, Sacbee.com, 17 July 2026
  • My fiancé’s older brother is in prison for felony indecency with a child.
    — Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 17 July 2026
Definition of prison

Browse Nearby Words

captivities
captivity
captor
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Captivity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captivity. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on captivity

Nglish: Translation of captivity for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of stalwart

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
thumbnail graphic with text word of the day quiz
Weekly "Word of the Day" Quiz See how well you know each Word of the Day for Ju...
See All