Meaning
A hostage is an individual who is seized and held captive, typically to compel a third party to act in a specific manner, often involving negotiations or coercive tactics; this term is frequently employed in contexts of criminality, terrorism, or warfare,
💡 The term "hostage" can sometimes be misused to describe individuals in non-coercive situations; it is crucial to reserve its application for contexts involving duress or threats.
Example Sentences
Word in Context
On
the
commuter
train
,
Laura
felt
like
a
hostage
to
the
timetable
,
unable
to
alter
the
strict
rhythm
of
her
day
.
She
noticed
colleagues
scrolling
through
messages
and
realized
they
,
too
,
were
bound
by
obligations
that
left
little
room
for
spontaneity
.
Rather
than
succumbing
to
irritation
,
she
sketched
a
few
ideas
for
a
small
project
,
turning
constraint
into
creative
focus
.
When
an
unexpected
delay
stretched
the
journey
,
she
took
a
steadying
breath
and
reframed
the
pause
as
time
to
think
.
By
the
time
she
stepped
off
,
what
had
begun
as
frustration
felt
manageable
and
even
purposeful
.
Common Phrases
taken hostage
held hostage
hostage situation
Related Words
Never forget "hostage"
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