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

The exhibition recreates the Israeli music festival with items salvaged from the scene and witness testimonies, while asking participants to seek the return of the hostages taken at the festival. —Martin Vassolo, Axios, 19 Dec. 2024

Officers were involved in a shooting while responding to a hostage situation on the north side of Indianapolis. —Ryan Murphy, The Indianapolis Star, 19 Dec. 2024

Hamas militants began the war with an Oct. 7, 2023, attack in Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages, some of whom are still being held. —Ellen Knickmeyer, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2024

Of the 96 hostages believed to remain in Gaza, Israel estimates that 62 are still alive. —Tim Ryan, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 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