The act of seizing or holding a person as security for the fulfilment of a condition.
with the recent escalation of hostilities comes the tactic of hostage-taking
count nounsabotage and hostage-takings by community activists
Example sentencesExamples
The hostage-taking bears the hallmarks of the separatists, although their main leaders deny involvement.
For the past four years, he has also been part of the RCMP's emergency response team which responds to high-risk situations like hostage-takings.
While the motives for hostage-taking are diverse, there may be certain underlying elements that are unique to this type of offence.
We are concerned that the government is sanctioning extra-judicial executions, hostage-taking, torture and violence in the run-up to the presidential elections.
One of the factors contributing to the hostage-takings is the tacit approval that many give such acts amid growing anti-American sentiment.
Some guerrillas have created a grisly business on the side: hostage-taking for revenge and (especially) profit.
They hope the death penalty will halt a wave of murder, rape and hostage-taking.
Andrew Flynn directs with flair and sensitivity, in a convincing insight into the horrors of hostage-taking.
Police sealed off the island following the hostage-taking.
In most societies, such activities as the killing of prisoners, hostage-taking, and the killing of civilians are deemed to be war crimes.