Abductees: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when referring to individuals who have been taken away by force, often in kidnapping or alien abduction scenarios. There is typically an element of being taken against one’s will.

• The police are still searching for the abductees taken from the school bus last week.
• The movie explores the experiences of alien abductees and their strange encounters.

Used for people who are confined or held prisoner, often in situations involving war, conflict, or captivity by criminals. This term can be generally used for any person held in confinement.

• The captives were held in a dark, damp cell for months.
• After the battle, many soldiers became captives of the enemy.

Specifically describes individuals held by someone who demands something in return for their release, often in criminal, political, or wartime situations. The term usually involves negotiation.

• The kidnappers took several hostages, demanding a large ransom for their release.
• The embassy siege resulted in a tense standoff with hostages at risk.

Refers to individuals legally held in a prison or under police custody. This term is also used in a broader sense for anyone deprived of personal liberty.

• The prison is home to hundreds of prisoners serving various sentences.
• After his capture, the criminal was kept as a prisoner awaiting trial.