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Definition of kidnapping

kidnapping

/ˈkɪdˌnæp.ɪŋ/
kid · nap · ping
Plural:kidnappings
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kidnapping Lexical Profile

kidnapping Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The unlawful act of seizing, carrying away, and detaining a person against their will, often to demand a ransom or gain a political concession.

Example

"The historical novel centers on the mysterious kidnapping of a young heir in nineteenth-century Scotland."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
View all antonyms for kidnapping

• Nearby Words

kidlit
kidnap
kidnapper
kidnapping
kidney
kidney bean
kidney beans

Word Origin & Etymology

Originating in late 17th-century thieves' cant, the word combines 'kid' (child) and 'nap' (a variant of 'nab', meaning to snatch), originally referring to the practice of stealing children to sell as forced laborers in the American colonies.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Kidnapping. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 1, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/kidnapping
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