noun
Uncommon
captivity
kap-TIH-vih-tee
Captivity (noun) means the state of being held prisoner or kept confined. Example: “The tigers were born in captivity and had never hunted in the wild.”
noun
1
The state of being held prisoner or kept confined.
"The tigers were born in captivity and had never hunted in the wild."
"He described the years he spent in captivity after being taken hostage."
"The zoo explained that some of its birds had lived their whole lives in captivity."
How to use captivity
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBeing kept prisoner or locked up, unable to go free.
Common pairings
held in captivity
bred in captivity
years of captivity
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like captivity.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- captivities
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The tigers were born in _____ and had never hunted in the wild.
Etymology
From Latin captivitas, built on captivus, "prisoner" — from the same root as "captive" and "capture."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for captivity
See all rhymes for captivity →Frequently asked questions
What does “captivity” mean?
The word “captivity” means the state of being held prisoner or kept confined. In plain terms, being kept prisoner or locked up, unable to go free.
How do you pronounce “captivity”?
“Captivity” is pronounced kap-TIH-vih-tee (/kæpˈtɪvɪti/ in IPA).
How do you use “captivity” in a sentence?
Here is “captivity” used in a sentence: “The tigers were born in captivity and had never hunted in the wild.”
What part of speech is “captivity”?
“Captivity” is a noun.
Where does the word “captivity” come from?
The word “captivity” comes from Latin. From Latin captivitas, built on captivus, "prisoner" — from the same root as "captive" and "capture.".
Is “captivity” a common word?
“Captivity” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between captivity and imprisonment?
Captivity is the broader term for being held prisoner or kept confined, and it applies to both people and animals, while imprisonment specifically refers to being confined in a prison or jail as a legal punishment. An animal held in a zoo is in captivity, but the word imprisonment would not normally apply to it.
What does it mean for an animal to be born in captivity?
An animal born in captivity is born and raised in a controlled environment such as a zoo, sanctuary, or breeding facility, rather than in the wild. This distinction matters for conservation and welfare discussions, since animals born in captivity may lack survival skills needed in the wild.
How is captivity different from being held hostage?
Captivity is the general state of being confined against one's will, while being held hostage specifically means being held to pressure a third party into meeting demands, often with an explicit threat. All hostage situations involve captivity, but not all captivity involves being a hostage.
