captive

/ˈkæptɪv/

/ˈkæptɪv/

Other forms: captives

A captive is something that has been captured and can’t escape, like a prisoner of war or a panda in a zoo.

To be captured on the battlefield, and held captive is not so great, but captive doesn’t always describe things that are completely bad, like its synonym, hostage. If you fall in love you might say your heart is being held captive. Ideas that entrance you could be called captivating. Sometimes endangered animals are brought into captivity in order to breed larger populations, and then released into the wild.

Definitions of captive

1. noun

   a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
   synonyms: prisoner

   types:

   con, convict, inmate, yard bird, yardbird

   a person serving a sentence in a jail or prison

   detainee, political detainee

   a person held in custody

   hostage, surety

   a prisoner who is held by one party to insure that another party will meet specified terms

   internee

   a person who is interned

   political prisoner

   someone who is imprisoned because of their political views

   POW, prisoner of war

   a person who surrenders to (or is taken by) the enemy in time of war

   lifer

   a prisoner serving a term of life imprisonment

   trusty

   a convict who is considered trustworthy and granted special privileges

   type of:

   unfortunate, unfortunate person

   a person who suffers misfortune
2. noun

   an animal that is confined
   type of:

   animal, animate being, beast, brute, creature, fauna

   a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
3. noun

   a person held in the grip of a strong emotion or passion
   type of:

   emotional person

   a person subject to strong states of emotion
4. adjective

   being in captivity
   synonyms: confined, imprisoned, jailed

   unfree

   hampered and not free; not able to act at will
5. adjective

   giving or marked by complete attention to
   synonyms: absorbed, engrossed, enwrapped, intent, wrapped

   attentive

   (often followed by `to') giving care or attention