Legal Definitions - captive

A captive is primarily a person who has been unlawfully seized and held by another. This term also specifically refers to a prisoner of war, who is a combatant captured and held by an enemy during armed conflict.

A captive refers to an individual or an animal that has been seized, restrained, or confined, often against their will or natural state.

• Example 1: During a high-profile bank robbery, the perpetrators took several customers and employees hostage inside the building, refusing to release them until their demands were met.

  Explanation: The customers and employees are considered captives because they have been unlawfully seized and are being held against their will by the robbers, unable to leave the premises freely.

• Example 2: A wildlife rescue organization found an injured fox kit and brought it to their facility for treatment and recovery, keeping it in a secure enclosure until it was healthy enough to be released back into the wild.

  Explanation: The fox kit is a captive in this scenario because it has been caught and is being kept confined within the rescue facility, rather than living freely in its natural habitat, even though the confinement is for its own benefit.