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

Mary was also missing at this time, mentioned as a possible abduction victim on the Amber Alert, per the Miami Herald. —Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 18 Feb. 2025

Source: Mongabay The Brussels Court of Appeal ordered the government to compensate five multiracial victims of colonial abductions Belgium ruled what are now the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, and Rwanda from 1908 to 1960. —Troy Aidan Sambajon, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Feb. 2025

She was arrested and charged with two counts of abduction and two counts of child cruelty, police said, adding that the investigation is ongoing and further charges may be pending. —Natalie Demaree, Miami Herald, 12 Feb. 2025

The war, sparked by Hamas' invasion of Israel, tragically claimed the lives of more than 1,200 Israelis, predominantly civilians, and led to the abduction of over 200 people. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Feb. 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

Rhymes for abduction

• adduction
• conduction
• construction
• deduction
• destruction
• eduction
• induction
• instruction
• obstruction
• production
• reduction
• seduction

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.