captive
word
/ˈkæptɪv/
/kˈæptɪv/
Definition
A captive is a person or animal that has been captured and is not free. It commonly refers to someone held as a prisoner, or an animal kept in confinement.
Usage & Nuances
"Captive" is mainly formal or literary, found in news, stories, and discussions of wildlife. It can be used for both people and animals. Common collocations: "held captive," "captive audience," "in captivity." Don't confuse with "prisoner" (person only).
Spanish: cautivo - prisionero (persona) - en cautiverio (animal)Portuguese (BR): cativo - prisioneiro (pessoa) - em cativeiro (animal)Portuguese (PT): cativo - prisioneiro (pessoa) - em cativeiro (animal)Chinese (Simplified): 俘虏 - 被囚禁的Chinese (Traditional): 俘虜 - 被囚禁的Hindi: क़ैदी - बंदीArabic: أسير - محتجزBengali: বন্দী - আটকRussian: пленник - находящийся в неволеJapanese: 捕虜 - 囚われの身Vietnamese: tù nhân - bị giam giữKorean: 포로 - 감금된Turkish: esir - tutsakUrdu: قیدی - گرفتارIndonesian: tawanan - dalam tahanan
Example Sentences
The lion was kept captive in the zoo.
basic
The soldiers freed the captive.
basic
She felt like a captive in her own home.
basic
The pirates kept the sailors captive for weeks.
natural
After five years captive, the bird couldn't fly well anymore.
natural
He was held captive by his own fears.
natural