Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
hold-hostage
Verb
/hoʊld ˈhɑːstɪdʒ/
Definition
To seize and keep someone against their will as a means to achieve a particular purpose, often coercive.
Examples
- During the crisis, the terrorists decided to hold-hostage several bank employees to attract media attention.
- The police worked tirelessly to negotiate the release of the hostages without further violence.
Meaning
The term is often used in contexts involving abduction or captivity where an individual is used as leverage or bargaining power in negotiations.
Synonyms
- Kidnap
- Capture
- Detain
- Constrain
