captor

noun

cap·​tor ˈkap-tər How to pronounce captor (audio)
-ˌtȯr
: one that has captured a person or thing

Examples of captor in a Sentence

The men fought their captors and escaped.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Fringilla escapes her captors, weaker but no less determined, and rescues Istredd from his cell. Scott Meslow, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025 Ciri, unbeknowest to her surrogate ma and pa, is free of her Nilfgaardian captors and on the run with a band of adolescent ruffians, and perhaps figuring out how to take care of herself. Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025 The website has reportedly seen an uptick in activity within the Cuaçao region during family holidays – prompting investigators to theorize that Bradley could be visiting the site to feel closer to her family, or her captors are monitoring the case. Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2025 Michelle is a heartless professional and sees this as a battle between the wits (herself) and the dimwits (her captors). Randy Myers, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for captor

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin, from Latin capere

First Known Use

circa 1688, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of captor was circa 1688

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Captor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/captor. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

captor

noun
cap·​tor ˈkap-tər How to pronounce captor (audio)
-ˌtȯ(ə)r
: one that has captured a person or thing

More from Merriam-Webster on captor

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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