captive

The term captive refers to a person, animal, or thing that is confined or held under someone else's control. In common use, a captive is someone deprived of liberty or freedom, or an object or resource kept under control. The word originates from the Latin captivus, from capere "to seize," entering English via Old French captive.

In human contexts, a captive denotes a person held against their will, such as a prisoner of war, a hostage, or a victim of abduction. Captivity may be temporary or prolonged and can involve coercion, threat, or exploitation. International law distinguishes protected persons during armed conflict and prohibits hostage-taking and acts of kidnapping; abuses against captives are condemned by human rights instruments, though enforcement varies.

In nature and research, many species are kept in captivity in zoos, aquaria, farms, or laboratories. Captivity can facilitate breeding programs, veterinary care, or conservation education, but it raises welfare concerns and debates about the ethics of confinement versus the animals' natural behavior. Some critics argue that captivity should be limited to refuges or conservation efforts with high welfare standards.

The term also appears in economics and media, with phrases such as captive market or captive audience, referring to groups that have limited ability to avoid certain products or messages. In business, a captive insurer is a subsidiary formed to insure the risks of the parent company. The word thus spans legal, ethical, economic, and cultural dimensions.