abduction

noun

ab·​duc·​tion ab-ˈdək-shən 

əb-

1

: the action of abducting : the condition of being abducted

2

archaic : the unlawful carrying away of a woman for marriage or sexual intercourse

Synonyms

• hijacking
• highjacking
• kidnapping
• kidnaping
• rape
• snatch [slang]

Examples of abduction in a Sentence

discredited reports of abductions by aliens

Recent Examples on the Web

Unfortunately for Reed, Harris's orders required him to betray his commanding officer by deliberately obstructing an investigation into the Klingons' abduction of chief medical officer Dr Phlox. —Richard Edwards, Space.com, 24 Jan. 2025

How, if China doesn’t hold significant clout with traffickers, did officials manage to negotiate Wang’s release just three days after his abduction on Jan. 3? —Charlie Campbell, TIME, 21 Jan. 2025

The attack resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and the abduction of 250 others, with around 100 still missing and many feared dead. —Justin Gest, Newsweek, 20 Jan. 2025

The discovery began when a security guard for a homeowners association in the Miami suburb of Coral Gables reported seeing an abduction around 9:35 a.m., Coral Gables Police Chief Edward James Hudak Jr. told reporters. —Louis Casiano, Fox News, 17 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin abdūctiōn-, abdūctiō "withdrawal, removal, allurement," from Latin abdūcere "to lead away" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns — more at abduct

First Known Use

1632, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Legal Definition

abduction

noun

ab·​duc·​tion ab-ˈdək-shən, əb- 

1

a

: the action of abducting

abduction of a robbery victim

b

: the tort or felony of abducting a person

2

: the unlawful carrying away of a wife or female child or ward for the purpose of marriage or sexual intercourse

Note: Sense 2 has its roots in common law. As statutorily defined, mainly in the nineteenth century, abduction was generally stated to include taking away or detention of a woman under a certain age, usually 16 or 18, with or without her consent or knowledge of her age.