ransom

¹ American  

[ran-suhm] / ˈræn səm /

noun

1. the redemption of a prisoner or kidnapped person, of captured goods, etc., for a price.

   Synonyms:

   release, liberation, deliverance

2. the sum or price paid or demanded.

3. a means of deliverance or rescue from punishment for sin, especially the payment of a redemptive fine.

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verb (used with object)

1. to redeem from captivity, bondage, detention, etc., by paying a demanded price.

2. to release or restore on receipt of a ransom.

3. to deliver or redeem from punishment for sin.

Ransom ² American  

[ran-suhm] / ˈræn səm /

noun

1. John Crowe 1888–1974, U.S. poet, critic, and teacher.

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ransom ¹ British  

/ ˈrænsəm /

noun

1. the release of captured prisoners, property, etc, on payment of a stipulated price

2. the price demanded or stipulated for such a release

3. rescue or redemption of any kind

4. 1. to keep (prisoners, property, etc) in confinement until payment for their release is made or received

   2. to attempt to force (a person or persons) to comply with one's demands

5. a very large amount of money or valuables

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verb

1. to pay a stipulated price and so obtain the release of (prisoners, property, etc)

2. to set free (prisoners, property, etc) upon receiving the payment demanded

3. to redeem; rescue

   Christ ransomed men from sin

Ransom ² British  

/ ˈrænsəm /

noun

1. John Crowe . 1888–1974, US poet and critic

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ransom Idioms  

1. see king's ransom.

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Usage

What does ransom mean? A ransom is the money or goods demanded to be paid in exchange for the release of a captured or kidnapped person or piece of property.Ransom also commonly refers to the amount of money that the captor demands.It can also refer to such an exchange or the act of releasing a person or property for a price, as in The duke’s ransom depended on his wife gathering all the money demanded. Ransom can also be used as a verb meaning to get a person or property released by paying a price, as in I had to ransom my toy from the bully for $10.It can also mean to release a captive after receiving a ransom, as in Each prisoner was ransomed for $500. Less commonly, ransom can be used in a religious context to mean to redeem or deliver someone from punishment for sin, as Christians believe Jesus did.A person who holds someone in exchange for a ransom is called a ransomer.Ransomware is software that is illegally put on a computer and prevents users from accessing their data without paying a ransom.Example: The kidnapper demanded a hefty ransom before he released the princess to her father.

Related Words

See redeem.

Other Word Forms

• ransomer noun
• unransomed adjective

Etymology

Origin of ransom

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English noun ranso(u)n, rançoun, from Old French rançon, reançon from Late Latin redēmptiōn- (stem of redēmptiō ) redemption; verb derivative of the noun

Example Sentences

"They were intending to take somebody, but have taken the wrong person," Det Acting Supt Andrew Marks told reporters on Monday, adding that no ransom note had been received.

From BBC

The days of ransom demands made up of letters cut from the pages of a magazine seem a thing of the past.

From BBC

Since then, Nanos has been the leading law enforcement communicator on the investigation, including after reports emerged of ransom notes demanding millions of dollars in cryptocurrency for Guthrie’s return.

From Los Angeles Times

Sources told The Times that authorities have no proof the person who authored the ransom notes has Guthrie.

From Los Angeles Times

The next day, Heith Janke, who heads the FBI’s Phoenix office, said that a ransom note distributed to the media made a demand for 5 p.m. that day.

From The Wall Street Journal