Meaning & use
captivity
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Meanings
noununcountable
The state of being kept as a prisoner or in a confined space, unable to leave.
Grammar: Uncountable; used with 'in' or 'from': in captivity, from captivity.
Patterns
- in captivity
- held in captivity
- escape from captivity
The hostages were held in captivity for six months.
After years in captivity, the journalist finally returned home.
The birds were bred in captivity and later released into the wild.
noununcountable
The state of being kept in an enclosed place, such as a zoo or farm, rather than living in the wild.
Grammar: Uncountable; often used for animals kept by humans.
Patterns
- in captivity
- born in captivity
- live in captivity
Many species of parrots live longer in captivity than in the wild.
The panda was born in captivity and has never lived in the forest.
Some wild animals suffer when they are kept in captivity.
Common combinations
- in captivity
- The lion was raised in captivity and cannot hunt.
- held in captivity
- The prisoners were held in captivity for two years.
- escape from captivity
- The parrot escaped from captivity and flew into the trees.
- born in captivity
- The baby elephant was born in captivity at the zoo.
- live in captivity
- Some turtles can live in captivity for over fifty years.
Synonyms and how they differ
- imprisonment
- Usually refers to being put in prison as a legal punishment; captivity is broader and can also describe animals or hostages.
- confinement
- Focuses on being kept in a small space, often for medical or punitive reasons; captivity emphasizes being held against one's will.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: captivity or capture?
captivity vs capture
Capture is the act of catching someone or something; captivity is the state of being held after being caught.
Practice
The orca was taken from the ocean and has lived in ______ for ten years.
Choose one answer.
'In captivity' is the fixed phrase for an animal kept in an enclosure. 'Capture' is the act of catching, not the state; 'captive' is a noun or adjective and would need 'a captive' or 'captive' without 'in'; 'captivating' means charming.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “captivity”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.