Captive
/ˈkæptɪv/
nounBeginnerCommonGeneral
Meanings
Questions
Definitions
2 meanings1
A person who is imprisoned or held against their will.
/ˈkæptɪv/
nounnegativeBeginner
General
A person who is held prisoner.
The captive was finally released after years of imprisonment.
💡 Simply: Someone who is a prisoner.
More Examples
2
She felt like a captive in her own home.
How It's Used
War
"The soldiers took many captives during the battle."
Crime
"The kidnapper held his captive for ransom."
2
Held prisoner or confined.
/ˈkæptɪv/
adjectiveneutralBeginner
General
Held prisoner; confined.
The captive bird struggled against its cage.
💡 Simply: Trapped or held.
More Examples
2
He felt captive to his responsibilities.
How It's Used
Literature
"The captive audience listened intently to the speaker."
Tip:Think 'captured' - something captured is captive.
From Old French *captif*, from Latin *captivus*, from *capere* "to take, seize".
The word 'captive' has been used consistently throughout history to describe prisoners of war and those held against their will.
Memory tip
Think 'capture' - being captured makes you a captive.
Practice
Base: captive
captivcapitivecaptife
Usage
40%Spoken
60%Written