hostage-taker

noun

One who is responsible for capturing one or more people and using their detainment and the threat to their well-being as a means of gaining power and leverage in the pursuit of their interests.

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Meanings

nounhostage-taker (plural hostage-takers)

plural hostage-takers · alternative hostage taker

  1. One who is responsible for capturing one or more people and using their detainment and the threat to their well-being as a means of gaining power and leverage in the pursuit of their interests.

Translations

Dutch gijzelnemer, gijzelhouder
  • gijzelnemerTranslations
  • gijzelhouderTranslations
Finnish kaappaaja, panttivankien ottaja
  • kaappaajaTranslations
  • panttivankien ottajaTranslations
French preneur d'otage
  • preneur d'otageTranslations
German Geiselnehmer, Geiselnehmerin
  • GeiselnehmerTranslations
  • GeiselnehmerinTranslations
Norwegian Bokmål gisseltaker
  • gisseltakerTranslations
Persian گروگانگیر
  • گروگانگیر (gerogân-gir)Translations
Swedish gisslantagare
  • gisslantagareTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

hostage-taker. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hostage-taker

MLA

“hostage-taker.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hostage-taker. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “hostage-taker,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hostage-taker.

Source: hostage-taker on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.