captivity

noun

cap·​tiv·​i·​ty kap-ˈti-və-tē How to pronounce captivity (audio)
1
: the state of being captive
some birds thrive in captivity
2
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.
This cub will likely stay in captivity due to its condition, according to officials. John Leos, The Arizona Republic, 2 Nov. 2024 Petro Yatsenko, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Coordination Center for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, said in a statement that some 25 Ukrainian journalists were being held in Russian captivity, and several others are considered missing. Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 13 Oct. 2024 Subsequent seasons explored the case of Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, an American soldier charged with desertion after being freed from Taliban captivity, the cracks in the Cleveland court system, and the history of the military prison at Guantanamo Bay. Justine Browning, EW.com, 26 Sep. 2024 About 25 years ago, 126 pandas lived in captivity, and today there are more than 700. Andrew Keatts, Axios, 21 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for captivity 

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of captivity was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near captivity

Cite this Entry

“Captivity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/captivity. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on captivity

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