captor

noun

cap·​tor ˈkap-tər How to pronounce captor (audio)
-ˌtȯr
Synonyms of captornext
: one that has captured a person or thing

Examples of captor in a Sentence

The men fought their captors and escaped.
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.
By comparison, prize law does not require a captor to have a warrant or tie a vessel’s seizure to a violation of an existing stature. — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026 David said he was selected to appear in the video after his captors compared his physical state to Gilboa-Dalal’s. — Bianna Golodryga, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026 But the captor would not have been inclined to tell that story, and the captive was not allowed, being not permitted to learn to read or write. — Anne Haley, Time, 11 Aug. 2026 Her captors begin searching for a tracker embedded beneath her skin, but Joe insists the CIA doesn’t implant its operatives with tracking devices. — Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for captor

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin, from Latin capere

First Known Use

circa 1688, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of captor was circa 1688

Rhymes for captor

See All Rhymes for captor

Browse Nearby Words

captopril
captor
captorhinomorph
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Captor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/captor. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

captor

noun
cap·​tor ˈkap-tər How to pronounce captor (audio)
-ˌtȯ(ə)r
: one that has captured a person or thing

More from Merriam-Webster on captor

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for captor

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