captivity
noun
cap·tiv·i·ty
kap-ˈti-və-tē 
Synonyms
Examples of captivity in a Sentence
The prisoners were released from captivity.
the wildlife refuge raises endangered species in captivity and then releases them into the wild
Recent Examples on the Web
Winning the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival, the second of Chan-wook’s vengeance trilogy finds Choi Min-sik as a drunkard who’s mysteriously imprisoned for 15 years, only to be unceremoniously released from captivity to discover what his past sins resulted in.
—
Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 28 Oct. 2024
The animal was weak and dehydrated when another bystander took it to the wildlife hospital operated by the Bird Alliance of Oregon, leading experts to suppose the fox had accidentally escaped from captivity or been dumped by people who kept her illegally.
—Alexa Robles-Gil, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Oct. 2024
This cub will likely stay in captivity due to its condition, according to officials.
—John Leos, The Arizona Republic, 2 Nov. 2024
Petro Yatsenko, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Coordination Center for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, said in a statement that some 25 Ukrainian journalists were being held in Russian captivity, and several others are considered missing.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 13 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for captivity 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 28 Oct. 2024
The animal was weak and dehydrated when another bystander took it to the wildlife hospital operated by the Bird Alliance of Oregon, leading experts to suppose the fox had accidentally escaped from captivity or been dumped by people who kept her illegally.
—Alexa Robles-Gil, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Oct. 2024
This cub will likely stay in captivity due to its condition, according to officials.
—John Leos, The Arizona Republic, 2 Nov. 2024
Petro Yatsenko, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Coordination Center for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, said in a statement that some 25 Ukrainian journalists were being held in Russian captivity, and several others are considered missing.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 13 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for captivity
Dictionary Entries Near captivity
Cite this Entry
“Captivity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/captivity. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share