kidnap

verb

kid·​nap ˈkid-ˌnap 

kidnapped also kidnaped ˈkid-ˌnapt  ; kidnapping also kidnaping

transitive verb

: to seize and detain or carry away by unlawful force or fraud and often with a demand for ransom

kidnappee noun

or kidnapee

ˌkid-ˌna-ˈpē 

kidnapper noun

or less commonly kidnaper

Synonyms

• abduct

Examples of kidnap in a Sentence

the child of the wealthy industrialist was kidnapped and held for ransom

Recent Examples on the Web

Meanwhile, Pete kidnapped Jay’s body to go visit his daughter, who is moving to Australia. —Vlada Gelman, TVLine, 19 Dec. 2024

Shortly after the reunion, though, Kraven’s brother, Dmitri (Fred Hechinger) is kidnapped by Aleksei, leading to a climactic showdown with the man who becomes The Rhino. —Tim Lammers, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024

Officials with the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office said Underwood did not deserve mercy, as evidenced by his plan to kidnap, rape, torture and cannibalize 10-year-old Jamie Rose Bolin. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024

The plate seems to reference Oct. 7, when Hamas militants stormed into Israel, killing about 1,200 people and kidnapping about 250. —Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

probably back-formation from kidnapper, from kid + obsolete napper thief

First Known Use

1682, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

kidnap

verb

kid·​nap ˈkid-ˌnap 

kidnapped also kidnaped -ˌnapt  ; kidnapping also kidnaping

-ˌnap-iŋ

: to carry away a person by unlawful force or by fraud and against his or her will

kidnapper noun

also kidnaper

-ˌnap-ər

Legal Definition

kidnap

transitive verb

kid·​nap ˈkid-ˌnap 

kidnapped or kidnaped -ˌnapt  ; kidnapping or kidnaping

-ˌna-piŋ

: to seize and confine or carry away by force or fraud and often with a demand for ransom

kidnapper noun

or kidnaper

-ˌna-pər

Etymology

probably back-formation from kidnapper, from kid child + obsolete napper thief