kidnap

C1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˈkɪdnæp/ See IPA manual

Freq #5708

Meanings

1

verb
To take and hold someone illegally, often to demand money for their release.

The industrialist's child was kidnapped and held for ransom.
2

noun
The crime of taking and holding someone illegally.

The police are investigating the kidnap of a local businessman.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to take and hold someone... snatch abduct

Word family

Forms kidnapedkidnapingkidnappedkidnapperkidnapperskidnappingkidnaps

Etymology

From kid + nap (“to nab; to grab”). Originally Thieves' cant, referring to the practice of stealing children and shipping them to colonies or plantations as laborers. First attested c. 1680.

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# kidnap

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈkɪdnæp/
**Frequency rank:** 5708

## Meanings
1. To take and hold someone illegally, often to demand money for their release.
2. The crime of taking and holding someone illegally.

## Examples
- The industrialist's child was kidnapped and held for ransom.
- The police are investigating the kidnap of a local businessman.

## Etymology
From kid + nap (“to nab; to grab”). Originally Thieves' cant, referring to the practice of stealing children and shipping them to colonies or plantations as laborers. First attested c. 1680.

## AI Etymology
Kidnap comes from kid + nap (“to nab; to grab”). Originally Thieves' cant, referring to the practice of stealing children and shipping them to colonies or plantations as laborers. First attested c. 1680. In present use it covers to take and hold someone illegally, often to demand money for their release and the crime of taking and holding someone illegally.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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