B2nounsocietypolitics
US/ˈkæp.tɪv/
UK/ˈkæp.tɪv/
a person or animal that is kept somewhere and not allowed to leave
In context
The rebels released two captives after the government paid a ransom.
In the novel, the captive escapes by climbing out of a window at night.
The pirates treated their captives badly and gave them very little food.
Words that go with captive
verb + noun
- take captivesThe invaders took captives back to their own country.
- free the captivesSpecial forces freed the captives in a night raid.
- release captivesBoth sides agreed to release captives as part of the peace deal.
noun + preposition
- captives ofFor two years, the journalists were captives of a rebel group.
adjective + noun
- former captiveA former captive described the terrible conditions in the camp.