(law) the unlawful act of capturing and carrying away a person against their will and holding them in false imprisonment
verb
take away to an undisclosed location against their will and usually in order to extract a ransom
“The industrialist's son was kidnapped”
Word Forms
kidnap
verb
take away to an undisclosed location against their will and usually in order to extract a ransom
snatch
verb
take away to an undisclosed location against their will and usually in order to extract a ransom
kidnapper
noun
someone who unlawfully seizes and detains a victim (usually for ransom)
kidnapping
noun
(law) the unlawful act of capturing and carrying away a person against their will and holding them in false imprisonment
kidnaper
noun
someone who unlawfully seizes and detains a victim (usually for ransom)
abduction
noun
the criminal act of capturing and carrying away by force a family member; if a man's wife is abducted it is a crime against the family relationship and against the wife
abductor
noun
someone who unlawfully seizes and detains a victim (usually for ransom)
snatch
noun
(law) the unlawful act of capturing and carrying away a person against their will and holding them in false imprisonment
snatcher
noun
someone who unlawfully seizes and detains a victim (usually for ransom)
Around the World
Europe
🇩🇪German
Entführung
(Gesetz) die rechtswidrige Handlung, eine Person gegen ihren Willen zu fangen, wegzuführen und sie in einer falschen Inhaftierung festzuhalten
🇫🇷French
enlèvement
(loi) l'acte illégal de capturer et d'emmener une personne contre sa volonté et de la maintenir en détention arbitraire
🇪🇸Spanish
secuestro
(ley) el acto ilegal de capturar y llevarse a una persona contra su voluntad y mantenerla en prisión falsa
🇮🇹Italian
rapimento
(legge) l'atto illegale di catturare e portare via una persona contro la sua volontà e di trattenerla in falsa detenzione
🇳🇱Dutch
ontvoering
(wet) de onwettige daad waarbij iemand tegen zijn wil wordt gevangengenomen en weggevoerd en in valse gevangenschap wordt vastgehouden
🇵🇹Portuguese
sequestro
(lei) o ato ilegal de capturar e levar uma pessoa contra sua vontade e mantê-la em cárcere privado
🇷🇺Russian
похищение
(закон) противоправный акт захвата и увоза человека против его воли и содержание его в неправомерном заключении
India
🇮🇳Hindi
अपहरण
(कानून) किसी व्यक्ति को उसकी इच्छा के विरुद्ध पकड़कर ले जाने और झूठे कारावास में रखने का गैरकानूनी कार्य
🇧🇩Bengali
অপহরণ
(আইন) একজন ব্যক্তিকে তাদের ইচ্ছার বিরুদ্ধে ধরে নিয়ে যাওয়া এবং মিথ্যা কারাগারে আটকে রাখার বেআইনি কাজ
🇮🇳Tamil
கடத்தல்
(சட்டம்) ஒரு நபரை அவர்களின் விருப்பத்திற்கு மாறாக சிறைபிடித்து அழைத்துச் சென்று தவறான சிறையில் அடைக்கும் சட்டவிரோத செயல்
🇮🇳Telugu
కిడ్నాప్
(చట్టం) ఒక వ్యక్తిని వారి ఇష్టానికి వ్యతిరేకంగా పట్టుకుని తీసుకెళ్లడం మరియు తప్పుడు జైలులో ఉంచడం అనే చట్టవిరుద్ధమైన చర్య
🇮🇳Marathi
अपहरण
(कायदा) एखाद्या व्यक्तीला त्यांच्या इच्छेविरुद्ध पकडून घेऊन जाणे आणि त्यांना खोट्या तुरुंगात डांबण्याचे बेकायदेशीर कृत्य
🇮🇳Gujarati
અપહરણ
(કાયદો) કોઈ વ્યક્તિને તેની ઈચ્છા વિરુદ્ધ પકડીને લઈ જવાનું અને તેને ખોટી કેદમાં રાખવાનું ગેરકાયદેસર કાર્ય
🇮🇳Kannada
ಅಪಹರಣ
(ಕಾನೂನು) ಒಬ್ಬ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ಅವರ ಇಚ್ಛೆಗೆ ವಿರುದ್ಧವಾಗಿ ಸೆರೆಹಿಡಿಯುವ ಮತ್ತು ಸಾಗಿಸುವ ಮತ್ತು ಅವರನ್ನು ಸುಳ್ಳು ಜೈಲಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಹಿಡಿದಿಟ್ಟುಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ಕಾನೂನುಬಾಹಿರ ಕ್ರಿಯೆ
🇮🇳Malayalam
തട്ടിക്കൊണ്ടുപോകൽ
(നിയമം) ഒരു വ്യക്തിയെ അവരുടെ ഇഷ്ടത്തിന് വിരുദ്ധമായി പിടികൂടി കൊണ്ടുപോകുകയും തെറ്റായ തടവിൽ പാർപ്പിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യുന്ന നിയമവിരുദ്ധമായ പ്രവൃത്തി
(hukum) tindakan melanggar hukum dengan menangkap dan membawa pergi seseorang di luar kehendaknya dan menahan mereka dalam penjara palsu
🇵🇭Filipino
pagkidnap
(batas) ang labag sa batas na pagkilos ng paghuli at pagdadala sa isang tao na labag sa kanilang kalooban at pagkulong sa kanila sa huwad na pagkakakulong
🇲🇾Malay
penculikan
(undang-undang) perbuatan yang menyalahi undang-undang menangkap dan membawa pergi seseorang di luar kehendak mereka dan menahan mereka dalam penjara palsu
Middle East
🇸🇦Arabic
خطف
(قانون) الفعل غير القانوني المتمثل في القبض على شخص واقتياده رغمًا عن إرادته واحتجازه في سجن زائف
🇮🇷Persian
آدم ربایی
(قانون) عمل غیرقانونی دستگیری و بردن شخصی بر خلاف میل او و نگه داشتن او در حبس کاذب
🇹🇷Turkish
adam kaçırma
(Hukuk) bir kişiyi kendi isteği dışında yakalayıp götürmek ve onu haksız yere hapiste tutmak şeklindeki yasa dışı eylem
🇮🇱Hebrew
חֲטִיפָה
(חוק) המעשה הבלתי חוקי של לכידתו והובלתו של אדם בניגוד לרצונו והחזקתו במאסר שווא
Test Yourself1 / 3
What is the primary definition of the word 'kidnapping'?
The primary meaning of 'kidnapping' is '(law) the unlawful act of capturing and carrying away a person against their will and holding them in false imprisonment'.
Which of the following sentences uses the word 'kidnapping' in a grammatically correct way?
Using 'kidnapping' in a noun/adjective form makes the first sentence correct.
In which domain is the word 'kidnapping' most likely to appear as standard vocabulary?
'kidnapping' is a standard word used primarily in general literature and formal communications.
Community Poll1 / 6
How often do you encounter the word 'kidnapping' in your daily reading?
Very Often
Occasionally
Rarely
Never
Do you find 'kidnapping' easy to spell?
Yes, very easy
Somewhat easy
A bit confusing
Extremely hard
In your opinion, does the word 'kidnapping' have a positive, neutral, or gloomy tone?
Positive
Neutral
Gloomy
Vibrant
Which age group is most likely to use 'kidnapping' in regular conversations?
Kids (3-12)
Teens (13-19)
Adults (20-60)
Seniors (60+)
How likely are you to use 'kidnapping' in a professional email?
Very likely
Somewhat likely
Not very likely
Never
Would you classify 'kidnapping' as formal, casual, or slang?
Formal
Casual
Slang
Archaic
Pick an option to see how others voted
This word is also in the Advanced book — want the full, immersive treatment (age meanings, culture, creative use, deeper Hindi & exercises)?
Open the Advanced entry →
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