captivity

noun

kap-ˈti-və-tē How to pronounce captivity (audio)
Definition of captivitynext
as in internment
the act of confining or the state of being confined the wildlife refuge raises endangered species in captivity and then releases them into the wild

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of captivity Their captivity took them from western Siberia to Yekaterinburg. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 July 2026 When the Spanish settlers decamped for Cuba in 1763 after ceding Florida to the English, the few surviving Tequesta, their numbers decimated by 200 years of captivity and slavery, conflict and ill treatment, are believed to have departed with them. — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026 Today, 160 servicemembers were released from captivity. — Alex Nitzberg, FOXNews.com, 26 June 2026 At least 80 school children are still in captivity after being abducted by militants in the southern and northern regions of the country. — ABC News, 24 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for captivity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for captivity
  1. internment
  2. imprisonment
  3. incarceration
  4. confinement
  5. prison
Noun
  • Established in 1855 as a military post to fight against the Mescalero Apache, the fort went on to play a minor role in the Civil War and later served as a tuberculosis sanitorium and a World War II internment camp.
    — Allison Savage Bates, Denver Post, 19 July 2026
  • The Rohingya still living in Myanmar face severe restrictions and many are confined to internment camps.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 July 2026
Definition of internment
Noun
  • As part of the agreement that was previously filed in court, prosecutors dismissed the charges of tampering with evidence, unlawful imprisonment and felony homicide against Jalen Pendergrass.
    — Hannah McIlree, CBS News, 31 July 2026
  • But even Lai, who received the harshest sentence of 20 years imprisonment, could receive visits in jail from his family shortly after he was locked up.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 July 2026
Definition of imprisonment
Noun
  • However, the Legislature had just spent a decade trying to undo California’s over-incarceration of Black and brown people, and wasn’t interested in new laws that would potentially target those very folks.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026
  • Duke responds with an act of impulsive violence that leads to nearly eight years of incarceration.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2026
Definition of incarceration
Noun
  • Due to their tiny size, roughly 4 nanometers across, quantum confinement breaks their energy levels into discrete steps rather than a continuous chunk.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 31 July 2026
  • Last week, Lichter filed a petition of habeas corpus, challenging Morales Rojas’ arrest and confinement at the ICE immigration detention facility in Aurora.
    — Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 31 July 2026
Definition of confinement
Noun
  • Jake Haro was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for his son's murder.
    — Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 31 July 2026
  • He was released from prison in California in 2023, according to the registry, and he is listed as being a transient in Sacramento.
    — Margaret Baker, Sacbee.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of prison

Browse Nearby Words

captivities
captivity
captor
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Cite this Entry

“Captivity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captivity. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on captivity

Nglish: Translation of captivity for Spanish Speakers

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