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

More than 100 of the hostages have been released – most as part of a cease-fire deal last November, and some freed in Israeli military operations. —Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024

The firestorm has enraged Netanyahu’s political opponents and families of the hostages. —Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024

The articles were published as ceasefire and hostage release negotiations were ongoing, but also as thousands of Israelis demonstrated almost daily calling on the government to strike a deal with Hamas and bring Israeli hostages home. —Irene Nasser, CNN, 4 Nov. 2024

The articles also seemed to provide political cover as Netanyahu faced intense criticism from families of the hostages and much of the Israeli public, who blame him for the failure to reach a deal. —Tia Goldenberg, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 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