abduction
1 Americannoun
noun
-
the act of taking someone away by force or cunning; kidnapping
-
the action of certain muscles in pulling a leg, arm, etc away from the median axis of the body
Etymology
Origin of abduction1
First recorded in 1620–30; abduct + -ion
Origin of abduction2
First recorded in 1690–1700, abduction is from the New Latin word abductiōn- (stem of abductiō; translation of Greek apagōgḗ ). See abduct, -ion
Explanation
If you're the victim of an abduction, you've been carried away against your will — kidnapped. The word comes from Latin ab "away" + ducere "lead." Abduction is also when you move your arm or leg away from your midline. "The Abduction from the Seraglio" is the English title of a famous Mozart opera, in which a nobleman tries to rescue his betrothed, who has been captured — abducted — by pirates and sold into a pasha's harem, or seraglio. At the end of the opera, the pasha is overwhelmed with mercy and frees everyone and sends them home. So there really isn’t an abduction from the seraglio; the pasha lets everybody go.
Vocabulary lists containing abduction
Lead the Way: Duc and Duct
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Freak the Mighty
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Strike A Pose: Positions and Posture
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
No group has said it was behind Saturday's abduction and the army is still waiting for the kidnappers to contact the family, the army said.
From BBC • May 31, 2026
Guthrie did not mention the situation with her mother’s abduction, but indicated her game show duties will be another step toward normalcy.
From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2026
The FBI, National Security Council, state department, Delta Force and the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service were in contact about her abduction, sources familiar told CBS.
From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026
NBC is also airing a special “Dateline” episode on the abduction on Friday.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026
My brother was evaporating before my eyes, and I had to find a way of stopping this dreadful abduction.
From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
