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.
The last living hostages from Nir Oz were returned to Israel on 13 October 2025 and the remains of the last deceased hostage, Amiram Cooper, were brought back two weeks later.
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
“Once he became Middle East envoy and was given responsibility for the hostages, he became one of the most famous people in Israel overnight,” an Israeli journalist who has covered him told me.
From Slate ● Jul. 22, 2026
Amongst the stream of warriors were the fathers of many of Jon’s hostages.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
