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
Six more living hostages returned this past Saturday, but with further outrages by Hamas.
—
The Editors, National Review, 24 Feb. 2025
Phase two of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas broadly calls for the end of all hostilities, the terrorist group’s permanent removal from governing Gaza, and the release of all remaining living Israeli hostages by Hamas.
—Asher Notheis, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 23 Feb. 2025
Hamas released six Israeli hostages from Gaza on Saturday in two public ceremonies and one private transfer, the final return of live hostages in this first phase of a ceasefire deal that began last month.
—Andrew Torgan, CNN, 23 Feb. 2025
They were dressed in khaki uniforms, though none were in military service when they were taken hostage.
—Fatima Abdulkarim, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hostage
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The Editors, National Review, 24 Feb. 2025
Phase two of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas broadly calls for the end of all hostilities, the terrorist group’s permanent removal from governing Gaza, and the release of all remaining living Israeli hostages by Hamas.
—Asher Notheis, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 23 Feb. 2025
Hamas released six Israeli hostages from Gaza on Saturday in two public ceremonies and one private transfer, the final return of live hostages in this first phase of a ceasefire deal that began last month.
—Andrew Torgan, CNN, 23 Feb. 2025
They were dressed in khaki uniforms, though none were in military service when they were taken hostage.
—Fatima Abdulkarim, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hostage
Cite this Entry
“Hostage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hostage. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hostage
noun
hos·tage
ˈhäs-tij 
: a person held captive as a pledge that promises will be kept or terms met by another
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