abduction
noun
ab·duc·tion
ab-ˈdək-shən 
əb-
Synonyms
Examples of abduction in a Sentence
discredited reports of abductions by aliens
Recent Examples on the Web
Her abduction from her home in late 1972 is the opening scene of Say Nothing, and the mystery surrounding her disappearance and execution, as well as the long-unknown location of her body, is the thread connecting all of the series’ narrative strands.
—
Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 16 Nov. 2024
An abduction must have occurred, the child must be at risk of serious injury or death, and there has to be descriptive information about the child, the suspect or the suspect's vehicle.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2024
In an analysis of court documents and public statements by government officials, Reuters found that there have been at least 33 assassination or abduction attempts in the West in which local or Israeli authorities allege an Iran link since 2020.
—Krystal Nurse, USA TODAY, 24 Oct. 2024
Riders stop at schools along the way to talk about abduction prevention.
—Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for abduction 
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Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 16 Nov. 2024
An abduction must have occurred, the child must be at risk of serious injury or death, and there has to be descriptive information about the child, the suspect or the suspect's vehicle.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2024
In an analysis of court documents and public statements by government officials, Reuters found that there have been at least 33 assassination or abduction attempts in the West in which local or Israeli authorities allege an Iran link since 2020.
—Krystal Nurse, USA TODAY, 24 Oct. 2024
Riders stop at schools along the way to talk about abduction prevention.
—Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for abduction
Articles Related to abduction
Dictionary Entries Near abduction
Cite this Entry
“Abduction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abduction. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
abduction
noun
ab·duc·tion
ab-ˈdək-shən, əb-
1
a
: the action of abducting
abduction of a robbery victim
b
: the tort or felony of abducting a person
2
: the unlawful carrying away of a wife or female child or ward for the purpose of marriage or sexual intercourse
Note: Sense 2 has its roots in common law. As statutorily defined, mainly in the nineteenth century, abduction was generally stated to include taking away or detention of a woman under a certain age, usually 16 or 18, with or without her consent or knowledge of her age.
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