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abductor

1 American  
[ab-duhk-ter] / æbˈdʌk tər /

noun

  1. a person who abducts.

abductor 2 American  
[ab-duhk-ter] / æbˈdʌk tər /

noun

  1. any muscle that abducts (opposed to adductor).

abductor Scientific  
/ ăb-dŭk′tər /

  1. A muscle that draws a limb or part of a limb away from the midline of the body.

  2. Compare adductor

Etymology

Origin of abductor1

First recorded in 1840–50; abduct + -or 2

Origin of abductor2

From New Latin, dating back to 1605–15; see origin at abduce, -tor

Vocabulary lists containing abductor

Human Anatomy and Physiology - High School

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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.

The trouble with this was that the abductor muscles are the ones that open the trachea, allowing airflow to the lungs.

From Slate • Apr. 18, 2026

The Guthrie family has publicly pleaded with the alleged abductor to return their mother, and has offered money as they seek proof of life and any information about her whereabouts.

From BBC • Mar. 8, 2026

Officials have not theorized about why she may have been snatched, but Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos appealed Monday to any potential abductor.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 3, 2026

Young had been on IR all season after having surgery to repair an abductor muscle injury.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 13, 2023

Frances could not see the print of the shoeless hoof, nor any peculiarity among the scores of tracks that would tell her of Nola’s abductor having ridden that far along the road.

From The Rustler of Wind River by Ogden, George W. (George Washington)

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.