abduction

noun

ab·​duc·​tion ab-ˈdək-shən How to pronounce abduction (audio)
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

Examples of abduction in a Sentence

discredited reports of abductions by aliens
Recent Examples on the Web Officers are seeking the public's help in locating a vehicle and driver involved the possible abduction of a 21-year-old... Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2024 This is certainly the case in episodes six and seven, with the brutal abduction of Noah. Demetrius Patterson, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Mar. 2024 Kaduna state, which borders the Nigerian capital Abuja to the southwest, has grappled with recurring incidents of kidnappings for ransom by bandits and has witnessed several mass abductions in recent years, including in the district where LEA Primary and Secondary School is located. Nimi Princewill, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024 The couple, along with two other suspects, were living in Florida and rounded up by U.S. authorities for the October 2021-armed abduction and ransom of 16 U.S. citizens and one Canadian, including five children as young as eight months, during a missionary trip to an orphanage. Chris Eberhart, Fox News, 5 Mar. 2024 McDougal is already in custody as he was arrested Friday and booked into the Polk County Jail on assault charges unrelated to the child’s abduction. Nicole Lopez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Feb. 2024 The abductions, which also involved a Canadian citizen, made international headlines and brought to light Haiti’s kidnapping-for-ransom epidemic and the power violent gangs were beginning to wield. Shirsho Dasgupta, Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2024 Wilson was found guilty of abduction, rape, robbery and murder and was sentenced to death. Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 29 Jan. 2024 Amy Baker Harrison was indicted by a Stafford County grand jury on Monday for the first-degree murder of Jacqueline Lard, as well as abduction with the intent to defile, aggravated malicious wounding and breaking and entering with the intent to commit murder, according to the sheriff’s office. Amanda Jackson, CNN, 9 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'abduction.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of abduction was in 1632

Dictionary Entries Near abduction

Cite this Entry

“Abduction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abduction. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Legal Definition

abduction

noun
ab·​duc·​tion ab-ˈdək-shən, əb- How to pronounce abduction (audio)
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.

More from Merriam-Webster on abduction

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