# captivity

/kæpˈtɪvəti/ (US) · /kæptˈɪvɪti/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/captivity
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. confinement

noun · CEFR B2

the state of being kept in a place like a zoo or a prison without the freedom to leave.

For teachers: the state of being imprisoned, enslaved, or confined. Uncountable in its general sense, though it can be countable when referring to specific instances of being held.

- The tiger was born in captivity and has never lived in the wild.
- Conservationists argue that while some species thrive in captivity, others suffer significant psychological distress when removed from their natural habitats.

### 2. a group of captives

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

a group of people who have been captured or taken as prisoners.

For teachers: a collective noun referring to a body of captives or prisoners. This usage is largely restricted to historical or biblical contexts.

- The king led the captivity through the gates of the city.
- The ancient chronicles describe how the conqueror drove the entire captivity across the desert to his own capital.

## Examples

- The bird lived in captivity for ten years.
- Many zoo visitors feel uneasy seeing wild animals kept in captivity.
- The poet described his exile as a form of captivity, where the invisible bars of political restriction were harder to break than iron ones.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.