captor: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal; used in news reporting, legal contexts, historical narratives, and literature.
Quick answer
What does “captor” mean?
A person who catches or confines another, especially in a hostile or forceful manner.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who catches or confines another, especially in a hostile or forceful manner.
More broadly, an entity that seizes, confines, or holds something or someone. Can be applied metaphorically to abstract forces (e.g., debt as a captor) or used in technical contexts (e.g., in biology, a molecule that binds another).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or usage differences. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Identical connotations of control and restraint.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties in formal registers.
Grammar
How to Use “captor” in a Sentence
[captor] of [prisoner/hostage][prisoner] escaped from [their captor][captor] released [prisoner]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “captor” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (The verb form is 'capture'. The related -or noun is 'captor') The soldiers sought to capture the fort.
American English
- (The verb form is 'capture'. The related -or noun is 'captor') The police moved to capture the suspect.
adverb
British English
- (No direct adverb form from 'captor') The prisoner was held captively.
American English
- (No direct adverb form from 'captor') He looked at his former jailer captorlessly? (Not standard; use descriptively).
adjective
British English
- (Adjectival use is rare. 'Captor' is primarily a noun) The captor state held all the cards.
American English
- (Adjectival use is rare. 'Captor' is primarily a noun) She studied the captor-captive relationship.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used metaphorically: 'The company became a captor of its own outdated processes.'
Academic
Common in history, political science, and law texts discussing captivity, POWs, or detention.
Everyday
Low frequency. Primarily used when discussing news stories about kidnappings or historical captures.
Technical
Used in legal contexts (e.g., rights of captor and captive) and in some scientific fields (e.g., a 'neutron captor').
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “captor”
- Using 'captor' to mean a person who is captivated or fascinated (that's 'captivated person').
- Confusing 'captor' (noun) with 'capture' (verb).
- Misspelling as 'capturer' (which is less standard).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Kidnapper' specifically refers to someone who illegally takes a person by force, typically for ransom. 'Captor' is broader and can refer to anyone who holds another captive, including soldiers holding prisoners of war or even someone who has trapped an animal.
Yes, though it's less common. It can be used metaphorically ('a captor of imagination') or in technical/scientific language ('a neutron captor'). In everyday use, it primarily refers to people.
It is understandable but non-standard and rare. 'Captor' is the established and preferred noun for the person who captures. 'Capturer' might be used in very specific or playful contexts but should generally be avoided in formal writing.
The word 'captor' is gender-neutral. If the gender is known and relevant, it can be specified as 'female captor' or 'woman captor'. There is no commonly used distinct feminine form like 'captress'.
A person who catches or confines another, especially in a hostile or forceful manner.
Captor is usually formal; used in news reporting, legal contexts, historical narratives, and literature. in register.
Captor: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkaptə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkæptər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Turn the tables on one's captor (to reverse a situation of control).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of CAPTOR containing the word CAPTURE. A CAPTOR is the person who performs the CAPTURE.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTROL IS HOLDING/CAPTURING; A PERSON IS A CONTAINER (for another's control).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'captor' LEAST likely to be used?