captor

noun

cap·​tor ˈkap-tər How to pronounce captor (audio)
-ˌtȯr
: one that has captured a person or thing

Examples of captor in a Sentence

The men fought their captors and escaped.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Peppered with leading questions about communist associations as screams echo in the halls outside the interrogation room, a distraught Eunice offers nothing to her captors. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 17 Jan. 2025 During those months, thousands more Palestinians were killed, and at least six hostages were executed by their captors. Ruth Margalit, The New Yorker, 16 Jan. 2025 Some were accidentally killed by Israeli forces, others by their Hamas captors as troops closed in. Joseph Krauss, Chicago Tribune, 16 Jan. 2025 In December 2023, the military said its soldiers had mistakenly shot and killed three hostages who fled their captors in Gaza: Yotam Haim, 28, and Alon Shamriz, 26, who were taken from Kibbutz Kfar Aza; and Samer Talalka, 24, who was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Am while at work. Ephrat Livni, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for captor 

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin, from Latin capere

First Known Use

circa 1688, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of captor was circa 1688

Dictionary Entries Near captor

Cite this Entry

“Captor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/captor. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

captor

noun
cap·​tor ˈkap-tər How to pronounce captor (audio)
-ˌtȯ(ə)r
: one that has captured a person or thing
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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