Entrapped

Entrapped is the past participle of the verb entrap and is used as an adjective to describe something or someone that has been caught, enclosed, or lured into a situation from which escape is difficult or unlikely. In common usage, it can refer to being physically captured by a trap or device, becoming stuck in a hazardous environment, or being coaxed into a course of action by another party.

Physically, something that is entrapped is unable to free itself due to surrounding constraints or the design of a trapping mechanism. This can apply to animals caught in nets or cages, vehicles stuck in mud, or objects wedged in a confined space. Figurative uses describe people placed in a compromised position by others, such as a staged scenario intended to compel a response.

In legal contexts, entrapment is a defense raised when a defendant claims that law enforcement induced them to commit a crime they would not have otherwise committed. Entrapped individuals may argue that authorities used coercive tactics, incentives, or manipulation. Jurisdictions differ on the test for entrapment, but many require proof of government inducement and a lack of predisposition by the defendant. Some systems emphasize the defendant’s predisposition, while others focus more on the nature of the persuasion.

Etymology and usage notes suggest that entrapped and entrap convey the idea of being snagged or lured into a situation, with the term appearing across legal, criminological, and everyday contexts. Related concepts include entrapment, sting operations, and undercover investigations.