How do you use the word "hostage" in a sentence?

Q: How do you use the word "hostage" in a sentence?

Here are real-life examples of using "hostage": He tried to brave it out while held as a hostage. Russia expresses regret for those lost in the hostage incident.

Hostage Meaning

/ˈhɒs.tɪd͡ʒ/

Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Definition

nounA person given as a pledge or security for the performance of the conditions of a treaty or similar agreement, such as to ensure the status of a vassal.

nounA person seized in order to compel another party to act (or refrain from acting) in a certain way, because of the threat of harm to the hostage.

Sentence Examples

He tried to brave it out while held as a hostage.

Russia expresses regret for those lost in the hostage incident.

Three children were taken hostage during the bank robbery.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms:

surety

Antonyms:

None

CEFR Practice Quiz

The kidnappers took a ____ and demanded a ransom.

CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)

The kidnappers demanded a large ransom in exchange for the safe release of the ____.

Word Origin & History

From Middle English hostage, ostage, from Old French hostage, ostage. This, in turn, is either from Old French hoste (“host”) + -age (in which case the sense development is from taking someone into "lodging" to taking them into "captivity", to applying the term to a captive), or is from Vulgar Latin obsidāticum (“condition of being held captive”), from Latin obses (“hostage, captive”), with the initial h- added under the influence of hoste or another word. Displaced native Old English ġīsl.

Literary Quotations & Historical Citations

"And there with alle was made hostage on bothe partyes and made hit as sure as hit myghte be that whether party had the vyctory soo to ende. "And therewithal was made hostage on both parties, and made it as sure as it might be, that whether party had the victory, so to end."" — 1485, Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, page 232r (Book X Chapter xxx):

"There are instances in which a state accepted a princess both from Han and from the Hsiung-nu, and "once Lou-lan had surrendered and presented tributary gifts [to the Han emperor], the Hsiung-nu heard of those events and sent out troups to attack [Lou-lan]. Whereupon [the king of] Lou-lan sent one son as a hostage to the Hsiung-nu and one as hostage to Han."" — 1979, Anthony François Paulus Hulsewé, China in Central Asia: The Early Stage: 125 BC - AD 23, page 61:

"Han tribute relations involved much the same bribery of the non-Chinese (with money, goods and princesses) as Peace and Friendship; the only qualitative difference was that the Xiongnu accepted nominal vassal status by sending a high-born hostage to China, paying homage to the emperor and offering 'tribute' (which could include objects of no particular value or use to the Chinese)." — 2009, Julia Lovell, The Great Wall:

"The putative force of hostageship as a form of surety lay in the threat to the life of the hostage in case of default; ties of blood magnified the threat, hence the prevalence of sons as hostages." — 2012, Adam J. Kosto, Hostages in the Middle Ages, page 199:

"He was the son of Theodemer, one of the leading Goths during the years immediately after Attila's death, and in the early 460s, at the age of seven or eight, Theoderic had been sent to Constantinople as a hostage, to guarantee an agreement between Leo and his father." — 2013, A. D Lee, From Rome to Byzantium AD 363 to 565, page 123:

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