hostage

noun

hos·​tage ˈhä-stij 

1

a

: a person held by one party in a conflict as a pledge pending the fulfillment of an agreement

b

: a person taken by force to secure the taker's demands

2

: one that is involuntarily controlled by an outside influence

Examples of hostage in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Militants still hold 130 Israeli hostages, although over a quarter are presumed dead. —Journal Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2024

Officials in Oakland, California unanimously passed a resolution in November calling on Congress to demand a cease-fire and the release of all hostages. —Jim Zarroli, NPR, 18 Apr. 2024

Uncertainty over how many hostages are still alive are complicating Gaza cease-fire negotiations, officials say. —Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 18 Apr. 2024

Once the difficult triage work of bringing the violence to a halt, ensuring the return of all hostages, and restoring some level of stability to Gaza is complete, the world community must prioritize a genuine political resolution to this most vexing and intractable of conflicts. —Ziad Asali, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2024

In hopes of seeing him again, Goldberg-Polin has become one of the most visible advocates for Israeli hostages and their families. —Yasmeen Serhan, TIME, 17 Apr. 2024

The war began shortly after Hamas militants attacked Israel, killed about 1,200 people and took hostages Oct. 7, according to Israeli authorities. —Daniel Wu, Washington Post, 15 Apr. 2024

Israel has vowed to crush Hamas after the Oct. 7 border attacks by militants, who killed 1,200 people and took 253 hostage. —Susan Miller, USA TODAY, 14 Apr. 2024

The deal presented calls for a six-week cease-fire in Gaza, during which Hamas would release 40 of the more than 100 hostages the group is holding in the enclave in exchange for 900 Palestinian prisoners from Israel’s jails, including 100 serving long sentences for serious crimes. —Tia Goldenberg, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English hostage, ostage, borrowed from Anglo-French, "lodging, residence, custody of a person held as security against fulfillment of an agreement, the person so held," from hoste "guest, host" + -age -age — more at host entry 1

Note: The peculiar sense shift apparently arose from the Old French use of hostage in verbal phrases such as prendre en hostage "to take in residence, lodge" in reference to the lodging of a person held as surety; the import of hostage was then transferred to the status of such a person, and finally to the actual person.

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing hostage

• a hostage to fortune
• hostage crisis

Kids Definition

hostage

noun

hos·​tage ˈhäs-tij 

: a person held captive as a pledge that promises will be kept or terms met by another