abductee

American  

[ab-duhk-tee, ab-] / æb dʌkˈti, ˌæb- /

noun

1. a person who has been abducted.

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Etymology

Origin of abductee

abduct + -ee

Explanation

An abductee is someone who has been kidnapped. Sometimes, a kidnapper will demand large amounts of money in exchange for the return of an abductee. An abductee is the victim of a crime, a person who has been seized and taken away against their will. If you take your neighbor's pet rabbit without asking and hide it in your room, that poor bunny is an abductee. The word comes from abduct, "to kidnap," and the -ee ending, which signifies "person to whom the verb's action is done."

Example Sentences

In her first ever appearance on “SNL” — insane, we know — Streep appeared as Colleen Sr., the mother of alien abductee Colleen Rafferty, Kate McKinnon’s recurring character.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 17, 2025

In 1996 I was invited to the clinic of the Harvard psychiatrist John Mack to witness the regression hypnosis of a self-professed alien abductee.

From New York Times • Jun. 25, 2021

One former abductee called him "a tough fighter who was always on the move" - though with a limp from a bad leg injury.

From BBC • Feb. 4, 2021

The alert identified the abductee as Glen, a 5-year-old boy wearing a blue shirt with a black collar.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 3, 2021

Given the importance of the abductee issue and Japan’s interest in the elimination of North Korea’s weapons program, an Abe-Kim summit “could be of substantial assistance,” Bolton said.

From Washington Post • May 25, 2019