What does kidnap mean?
To kidnap someone is to take them away by force or detain them unlawfully. The word is especially associated with the abduction of children and with offenders who demand ransom, but it can also describe the forcible confinement of adults or the kidnapping of a public figure for political or investigative purposes. In legal and journalistic contexts, “kidnap” and “kidnapping” are used formally and carry a serious criminal connotation. The related noun “kidnapper” denotes the person who commits the crime, while “kidnapped” describes a person who has been forcibly abducted. Although the verb can apply to animals in some contexts, its usual modern meaning concerns the unlawful seizure and confinement of a person.
verbTo abduct someone, especially by force and with the intention of holding them, often for ransom. It can also mean to carry someone off or confine them unlawfully.
- To abduct or forcibly detain a person, especially for ransom.
- To carry someone away or off by force.
- To seize and hold someone against their will.
"The authorities were working to determine whether the missing child had been kidnapped."
"The teenager was kidnapped while walking home from school."
"The film tells the story of a journalist who is kidnapped while investigating a corrupt government."
"She was kidnapped from her home and held for several days."
The word combines the old sense of “kid,” meaning a child, with “nap,” meaning to seize or steal—a grim compound for taking a child by force.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does kidnap come from?
Kidnap emerged in the early 17th century as a compound of “kid,” meaning a child, and “nap,” an older verb meaning to seize or steal. The original sense was the abduction of a child. The verb “nap” in this sense is related to other older English words associated with taking or catching, although modern dictionaries generally treat the compound as distinct in meaning.
Related word forms
How kidnap is actually used
Kidnap is used especially for the unlawful abduction and detention of people. It commonly suggests force, coercion, and sometimes ransom, although ransom is not required in every use.