captivity

noun

cap·tiv·i·ty kap-ˈti-və-tē

Synonyms of captivity next

: the state of being captive

some birds thrive in captivity

obsolete : a group of captives

Examples of captivity in a Sentence

The prisoners were released from captivity. the wildlife refuge raises endangered species in captivity and then releases them into the wild

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.

Pete Travis Timmerman, 29, from Urbana, Mo., emerged after months of captivity in an online video, which some mistakenly believed showed Austin Tice, a journalist who went missing in the country over a decade ago. —

Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 12 Dec. 2024 The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday issued a sweeping demand that Israel and Hamas reach a cease-fire agreement and that all hostages be freed from captivity. —

Caitlin McFall, Fox News, 12 Dec. 2024 Meanwhile, more than 130 Israeli reservists signed a letter refusing to fight in Gaza and Lebanon unless a deal is signed to end the war and bring back the 101 hostages that remain in Hamas’ captivity. —

Alexandra Banner, CNN, 25 Oct. 2024 Jia Jia, who died at 38 in 2016, is the world’s oldest-ever panda to have lived in captivity. —

Ryan Hogg, Fortune Asia, 3 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for captivity