hostage
noun
a person given or held as security for the fulfillment of certain conditions or terms, promises, etc., by another.
hostages
-
pluralof hostage.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
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.
Former hostages held in Gaza and their family members have written bestselling books and released music albums.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
However, with 20 houses renovated or rebuilt, a few former hostages have come back to live here.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
The last live hostages were freed a year ago as part of a US-brokered ceasefire deal in which Hamas stopped firing into Israel.
From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026
The first phase saw the release of all remaining hostages taken during the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
There was a bearded young Wickersham in a large photo after the incident was over, acting as spokesman for the just- released hostages.
From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover
