Hostage: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when someone is taken and held, usually by force or threat, to compel another party to act, or not act, in a certain way.

• The kidnappers took the businessman hostage and demanded a ransom.
• During the bank robbery, several customers were held hostage.

Refers to someone who is being held against their will, often in a context of conflict or war, but can also have broader applications.

• The soldiers found the captive in a hidden bunker.
• He felt like a captive in his own home due to the strict lockdown.

Used to describe someone who is held in a prison, usually after being convicted of a crime, but can also refer to someone captured during war.

• The prisoner was serving a life sentence for murder.
• During the war, many soldiers were taken as prisoners.

Refers to someone who is held in custody, typically by law enforcement or government authorities, for questioning or further investigation.

• The police detained several suspects for questioning.
• He was a detainee at the immigration center while his application was processed.

Typically used in situations where someone is captured and held against their will to force someone else to meet certain demands.

• The kidnappers took the tourists as hostages and demanded a ransom.
• She was held hostage in the bank for three hours before the police arrived.

Used to describe someone who suffers harm or hardship as a result of a negative situation or action by others. Does not necessarily imply being captured or held, but rather experiencing adversity.

• She was a victim of identity theft and lost all her savings.
• The earthquake left many victims in its wake, with people losing their homes and loved ones.

Used metaphorically to indicate someone who is being used by others for their own benefit, often without realizing it. Can also refer to a chess piece of the lowest value.

• He felt like a pawn in his boss's game, always being manipulated for company interests.
• In his strategy, he sacrificed a pawn to gain a better position on the board.