captive

[kap-tiv]

noun

1. a prisoner.

2. a person who is enslaved or dominated.

   He is the captive of his own fears.

adjective

1. made or held prisoner, especially in war.

   captive troops.

2. kept in confinement or restraint.

   captive animals.

3. enslaved by love, beauty, etc.; captivated.

   her captive beau.

4. of or relating to a captive.

5. managed as an affiliate or subsidiary of a corporation and operated almost exclusively for the use or needs of the parent corporation rather than independently for the general public.

   a captive shop;

   a captive mine.

captive

/ ˈkæptɪv /

noun

1. a person or animal that is confined or restrained, esp a prisoner of war

2. a person whose behaviour is dominated by some emotion

   a captive of love

adjective

1. held as prisoner

2. held under restriction or control; confined

   captive water held behind a dam

3. captivated; enraptured

4. unable by circumstances to avoid speeches, advertisements, etc (esp in the phrase captive audience )

Other Word Forms

• noncaptive adjective
• pseudocaptive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of captive¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English or directly from Middle French, from Latin captīvus, equivalent to capt(us) “taken” (past participle of capere “to take”) + -īvus adjective suffix ( -ive )

Word History and Origins

Origin of captive¹

C14: from Latin captīvus, from capere to take

Example Sentences

Though recruits from abroad in the Russian army are not unheard of, this is a rare case of a captive foreigner speaking on video.

From BBC

Israel's politicians and military leaders say it is acting in self-defence and working to destroy Hamas, as well as securing the release of remaining Israeli captives.

From BBC

The eyeball monster was among the captive cargo on a research vessel, the Maginot, commissioned by the Weyland-Yutani Corporation, the “Alien” franchise’s main corporate villain.

From Salon

Wadephul appealed to the Israeli government to instead return “to the path of negotiations for a ceasefire and an agreement” on the release of captives held in Gaza.

From Los Angeles Times

They wanted a captive audience for long enough to lay out their case for change.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• detainee 
• hostage 
• prisoner 
• prisoner of war 
• slave