captive

adjective
UK: /ˈkæptɪv/
US: /ˈkæptɪv/

  1. Unable to escape or break free; imprisoned or confined.

    1. The bird was captive in a cage.
    2. The country remained captive to old prejudices, hindering progress.

  2. Kept in confinement or restraint.

    1. The zoo has many captive animals.
    2. The captive audience listened intently to the speaker's words of wisdom.

  3. Controlled or dominated by something.

    1. She felt captive to her responsibilities.
    2. The project became captive to bureaucratic delays and unforeseen issues.

Synonyms

confined restricted
captive noun

  1. A person who is imprisoned or whose freedom is severely limited.

    1. The captive waited for rescue.
    2. The organization worked to free the captives held in the war zone.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "captive" in English means: Unable to escape or break free; imprisoned or confined., Kept in confinement or restraint., Controlled or dominated by something..

The phonetic transcription of "captive" is /ˈkæptɪv/ in British English and /ˈkæptɪv/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "captive": confined, restricted.

Example usage of "captive": "The bird was captive in a cage.". More examples on the page.