hostage

[hos-tij]

noun

1. a person given or held as security for the fulfillment of certain conditions or terms, promises, etc., by another.

2. Archaic.,  a security or pledge.

3. Obsolete.,  the condition of a hostage.

verb (used with object)

hostaged, hostaging 

1. to give (someone) as a hostage.

   He was hostaged to the Indians.

hostage

/ ˈhɒstɪdʒ /

noun

1. a person given to or held by a person, organization, etc, as a security or pledge or for ransom, release, exchange for prisoners, etc

2. the state of being held as a hostage

3. any security or pledge

4. to place oneself in a position in which misfortune may strike through the loss of what one values most

Other Word Forms

• hostageship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of hostage¹

1225–75; Middle English < Old French hostage ( h- by association with ( h ) oste host ² ), ostage ≪ Vulgar Latin *obsidāticum state of being a hostage < Latin obsid- (stem of obses ) hostage (equivalent to ob- ob- + sid- sit ¹ ) + -āticum -age

Word History and Origins

Origin of hostage¹

C13: from Old French, from hoste guest, _host ¹

Example Sentences

Hamas attacked southern Israel from Gaza on 7 October 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 others as hostages.

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The initial phase of the plan - a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and the handing over of hostages and detainees - came into force on 10 October.

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About 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage in that attack.

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In 2002, Russia used aerosolized fentanyl to quell a hostage crisis at a Moscow theater, killing more than 100 of the roughly 700 people being held in the rescue attempt.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Under the ceasefire deal, Hamas agreed to return the 20 living and 28 dead hostages it was still holding.

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Related Words

• captive 
• prisoner 
• victim