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

At age 10, the titular Mediha was kidnapped by ISIS militants and sold into slavery, a fate shared by thousands of Yazidi women and girls. —Matthew Carey, Deadline, 8 Dec. 2024

And then, a troop of redcoats storms the house looking for Jamie, which forces him to pretend to kidnap Lord John at gunpoint. —Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 7 Dec. 2024

And after dinner, I was gently kidnapped, forced to take up residency with the mother-daughter duo for the duration of my two-week stay. —Juliet Grames, People.com, 7 Dec. 2024

In January of that year, a 17-year-old was allegedly kidnapped at gunpoint and raped. —Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 6 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