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Hostage vs Kidnapping - What's the difference?

hostage | kidnapping |

As nouns the difference between hostage and kidnapping

is that hostage is a person given as a pledge or security for the performance of the conditions of a treaty or stipulations of any kind, on the performance of which the person is to be released while kidnapping is the crime of taking a person against their will, sometimes for ransom.

As a verb kidnapping is

present participle of lang=en.

hostage

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A person given as a pledge or security for the performance of the conditions of a treaty or stipulations of any kind, on the performance of which the person is to be released.
  • See also

    * give hostage to fortune

    Anagrams

    * * ----

    kidnapping

    Alternative forms

    * kidnaping (US) , less common.

    Verb

    (head)
  • Noun

    (en noun)
  • (legal) The crime of taking a person against their will, sometimes for ransom.
  • See also

    * abduction ----