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Definitions

hostage

[hos-tij] / ˈhɒs tɪdʒ /
NOUN
person held captive until captor's demand is met
Synonyms
Antonyms


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The parallels to today, while not exact, are interesting; along with the Iran hostage crisis, stagflation ended up destroying Jimmy Carter’s presidency.

From Salon • May 7, 2026

More legitimate consultancies put hostage negotiators together with information-technology experts and insurers to offer personalized crisis-response services.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026

Earlier, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz implored Iran to "return to the negotiating table and stop holding the region and the world hostage", echoing calls from Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

From Barron's • May 5, 2026

The resolution on the hostage speaking event also drew an unusual formal response from the university itself.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026

The Killing House was a fake—a mock-up of an embassy used to train the SAS in the art of hostage release.

From "Stormbreaker" by Anthony Horowitz




Vocabulary lists containing hostage