What does kidnapper mean?
A kidnapper is a person who unlawfully takes another person away by force, coercion, or deception. The word most often describes a criminal who captures someone in order to demand a ransom, but it can also refer to someone who abducts a person to exploit, punish, or control them. It is a strong, accusatory term used in legal reporting, journalism, and discussions of crime. The related verb “kidnap” is especially associated with the illegal removal of a person, and the agent noun “kidnapper” identifies the person responsible for that act. The expression is not limited to kidnappings in which a ransom is requested: unlawful abduction itself is enough to make someone a kidnapper. Because it carries a severe criminal connotation, the word is generally reserved for genuine cases rather than used casually for ordinary abductions or playful disappearances.
nounA person who illegally takes another person away, typically by force, coercion, or deception, often holding the victim for ransom or intimidating them. The term can also refer to someone who abducts a person to exploit, harm, or control them.
- A person who illegally abducts another person, usually by force, coercion, or deception, and may demand a ransom or use the victim for some other unlawful purpose.
"The kidnapper was convicted of holding the child and demanding a ransom."
"Police launched an international search for the kidnapper after the teenager disappeared."
"The novel portrays a ruthless kidnapper who controls his captives through fear."
The standard plural adds -s. The spelling “kidnapers” is also accepted, especially in British usage.
"The two kidnappers were captured after a lengthy police operation."
The word “kidnap” originally developed in 17th-century thieves' slang, combining “kid” with “nap,” before becoming a serious legal term for unlawful abduction.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does kidnapper come from?
The word “kidnap” is generally traced to 17th-century English, where it arose in the language of thieves. Its formation is commonly explained as a combination of “kid,” meaning a child, and “nap,” referring to taking or stealing someone during sleep, although the precise development of the expression is not entirely certain. “Kidnapper,” the agent noun, developed alongside the verb and became established in legal and journalistic usage. The related form “kidnapping” has the same origin and became the standard spelling in many English-speaking regions, although “kidnapping” is also recognized.
Related word forms
How kidnapper is actually used
The term is formal and strongly negative. It is used in news reporting, legal contexts, and discussions of crime, while less formal language may prefer “abductor” in some circumstances.
Easily confused with kidnapper
Kidnaper is an alternative spelling of kidnapper; both forms refer to a person who unlawfully abducts someone.