A hostage is someone who has been captured by a person or organization and who may be killed or injured if people do not do what that person or organization demands.
It is hopeful that two hostages will be freed in the next few days.
2.
See take sb hostage/hold sb hostage
3. variable noun
If you say you are hostage to something, you mean that your freedom to take action is restricted by things that you cannot control.
The bank is shrewdly ensuring that in future it will not be a hostage to strict targets. [+ to]
Wine growers say they've been held hostage to the interests of the cereal and soybeanfarmers.
More Synonyms of hostage
hostage in British English
(ˈhɒstɪdʒ)
noun
1.
a person given to or held by a person, organization, etc, as a security or pledge or for ransom, release, exchange for prisoners, etc
2.
the state of being held as a hostage
3.
any security or pledge
4. give hostages to fortune
Word origin
C13: from Old French, from hoste guest, host1
hostage in American English
(ˈhɑstɪdʒ)
noun
1.
a person given as a pledge, or taken prisoner as by an enemy or terrorist, until certain conditions are met
2. Obsolete
the state of being a hostage
SIMILAR WORDS: pledge
Idioms:
give hostages to fortune
Word origin
ME < OFr < hoste: see host1
More idioms containing
hostage
a hostage to fortune
Examples of 'hostage' in a sentence
hostage
The bombers agreed to release the hostages in exchange for safe passage.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It was reported that the group had been taken hostage.
The Sun (2016)
The guerrillas released a hostage on Monday and promised that two more would be released before the talks.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They have taken us hostage.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You'll know what it's like to be in a hostage situation.
The Sun (2016)
It may be more of an exchange of hostages than a leap for freedom.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
He may thereby speed the integration of the two companies but has given a hostage to fortune.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Survivors told of their horror as the group took over the venue and held people hostage.
The Sun (2015)
He is not killing foreign hostages to keep us away.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Why would they take a hostage when there were no police outside the door?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The other five hostages had been released earlier in the siege.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
But the most alarming moment comes with a hostage situation.
The Sun (2013)
But the crisis soon becomes a life or death battle for one hostage.
The Sun (2014)
The group is known to have been holding at least a dozen western hostages.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Australian cricketers take no prisoners but they do give hostages to fortune.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
At least a dozen people were taken hostage.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
This is a vicious man who was prepared to take hostages and spill blood if necessary.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The victims are forced into their own car and held hostage while the gang use their cards in cash machines and shops.
The Sun (2012)
What's the secret to success as a hostage negotiator?
Christianity Today (2000)
Met Police hostage negotiators also gave support.
The Sun (2006)
None of this is reassuring for British or American hostages.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In other languages
hostage
British English: hostage /ˈhɒstɪdʒ/ NOUN
A hostage is someone who has been captured by a person or organization and who may be killed or injured if people do not do what that person or organization demands.
It is hopeful that two hostages will be freed in the next few days.
American English: hostage
Arabic: رَهِينَةٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: refém
Chinese: 人质
Croatian: talac
Czech: rukojmí
Danish: gidsel
Dutch: gijzelaar
European Spanish: rehén
Finnish: panttivanki
French: otage
German: Geisel
Greek: όμηρος
Italian: ostaggio
Japanese: 人質
Korean: 인질
Norwegian: gissel
Polish: zakładnik
European Portuguese: refém
Romanian: ostatic
Russian: заложник
Latin American Spanish: rehén
Swedish: gisslan
Thai: ตัวประกัน
Turkish: rehine
Ukrainian: заручник
Vietnamese: con tin
Chinese translation of 'hostage'
hostage
(ˈhɔstɪdʒ)
n(c)
(= prisoner) 人质(質) (rénzhì) (个(個), gè)
to be taken/held hostage被绑(綁)架/扣押做人质(質) (bèi bǎngjià/kòuyā zuò rénzhì)
(noun)
Definition
a person who is illegally held prisoner until certain demands are met by other people
the man they were holding as a hostage
Synonyms
captive
He described the difficulties of surviving for four months as a captive.
prisoner
wartime hostages and concentration-camp prisoners
pledge
items held in pledge for loans
pawn
security
The banks will pledge the land as security.
surety
I agreed to stand surety for Arthur to be bailed out.