Ransom Meaning in English
word
Definition
Money that is demanded or paid to free someone who has been kidnapped, or to return something that has been taken. It can also be used more broadly for money demanded by criminals to unlock stolen data or systems.
Usage & Nuances
Usually used in serious crime contexts: 'pay ransom', 'demand ransom', 'hold someone for ransom'. The noun is much more common than the verb. In modern tech news, 'ransom' often appears with cybercrime, especially 'ransomware'.
Example Sentences
The family paid a ransom to get the child back.
basic
The kidnappers demanded a million dollars in ransom.
basic
The police said no ransom had been paid.
basic
They held the businessman for ransom for three days.
natural
The hackers locked the company’s files and asked for ransom.
natural
The note said the painting would be returned only after the ransom was paid.
natural