abduction

noun

ab·​duc·​tion ab-ˈdək-shən How to pronounce abduction (audio)
əb-
Synonyms of abduction
1
: the action of abducting : the condition of being abducted
2
archaic : the unlawful carrying away of a woman for marriage or sexual intercourse

Synonyms of abduction

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Examples of abduction in a Sentence

discredited reports of abductions by aliens
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The International Criminal Court in 2023 issued an arrest warrant for Putin for war crimes, accusing him of personal responsibility for the abductions of children from Ukraine. — ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026 Other theories about Madeleine’s disappearance include a botched robbery that resulted in her murder or an abduction by human traffickers. — Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Oct. 2026 The 1997 abduction and killing of Levi Frady inspired Georgia law enforcement officials to create Levi's Call, the state's version of the Amber Alert, in the hopes that no other child will be harmed. — Dan Raby, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026 Once investigators began digging into Evonitz’s past, Chamberlain’s abduction proved to be only part of the story. — Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for abduction

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin abdūctiōn-, abdūctiō "withdrawal, removal, allurement," from Latin abdūcere "to lead away" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns — more at abduct

First Known Use

1632, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of abduction was in 1632

Rhymes for abduction

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Browse Nearby Words

abductee
abduction
abductive
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Cite this Entry

“Abduction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abduction. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Legal Definition

abduction

noun
ab·​duc·​tion ab-ˈdək-shən, əb- How to pronounce abduction (audio)
1
a
: the action of abducting
abduction of a robbery victim
b
: the tort or felony of abducting a person
2
: the unlawful carrying away of a wife or female child or ward for the purpose of marriage or sexual intercourse

Note: Sense 2 has its roots in common law. As statutorily defined, mainly in the nineteenth century, abduction was generally stated to include taking away or detention of a woman under a certain age, usually 16 or 18, with or without her consent or knowledge of her age.

More from Merriam-Webster on abduction

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about abduction

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