Definition

Noun: * The crime of taking someone away illegally by force, typically to obtain a ransom or for some other unlawful purpose. It involves seizing and detaining a person against their will.

Usage

"Kidnapping" is used as a countable noun to describe the specific criminal act or instance. * The primary focus is on the illegal seizure and confinement of a person. * It is often associated with demands for money (ransom) or political leverage. * The term implies the victim is held captive, not just briefly taken.

Examples

• The kidnapping of the businessman's son was front-page news.
• She was charged with kidnapping after taking the child across state lines.
• The film is a thriller about a kidnapping that goes terribly wrong.
• He spent five years in prison for his role in the kidnapping.

Advanced Usage

• "Kidnapping for ransom": A specific type of kidnapping where the captors demand payment for the victim's release.
  • The police suspected the kidnapping was for ransom.
• In legal contexts, statutes may differentiate between degrees of kidnapping (e.g., first-degree, aggravated) based on factors like the victim's age, intent, or whether a weapon was used.

Variants and Related Words

• Kidnap (verb): To carry out the act of kidnapping.
  • The terrorists planned to kidnap the ambassador.
• Kidnapper (noun): A person who kidnaps someone.
  • The kidnappers made contact with the family.

Synonyms

• Abduction: Often used interchangeably with kidnapping, though it can have a broader meaning of taking someone away illegally.
• Snatching: Informal, often implying a quick, forceful seizure.
• Hostage-taking: Specifically involves seizing and holding a person to compel a third party to act.

Related Phrases

• To be held for ransom: The state of a kidnapping victim.
  • The journalist was held for ransom for over a month.

Noun

1. (law) the unlawful act of capturing and carrying away a person against their will and holding them in false imprisonment