ransom

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ransom^¹

/ˈɹæn.səm/

Rhymes with -ænsəm

Where it comes from

From the Middle English raunsoun, from the Old French raençon, from stem of Latin redēmptiō. Entered English ca. the 13th century. Doublet of redemption.

noun ransoms

uncountable, usually Money paid for the freeing of a hostage. They were held for two million dollars ransom.
uncountable, usually The release of a captive, or of captured property, by payment of a consideration. prisoners hopeless of ransom
UK, historical, uncountable, usually A sum paid for the pardon of some great offence and the discharge of the offender; also, a fine paid in lieu of corporal punishment. punished with imprisonment and ransom at the King's will

verb ransoms · ransoming · ransomed

obsolete To deliver, especially in context of sin or relevant penalties.
To pay a price to set someone free from captivity or punishment. to ransom prisoners from an enemy
To exact a ransom (payment) in exchange for the freedom of. Terrorists will continue to hold few detainees in undisclosed locations in order to ransom them for money or some other material profit, […]

Ransom^²

/ˈɹænsəm/ US

proper noun Ransoms

countable, uncountable A surname.
countable, uncountable A village in Allen Township, LaSalle County, Illinois, named after Thomas E. G. Ransom.
countable, uncountable A minor city in Ness County, Kansas, also named after Thomas Ransom.
countable, uncountable An unincorporated community in Pike County, Kentucky.
countable, uncountable A township and unincorporated community therein, in Hillsdale County, Michigan, named after Epaphroditus Ransom.
countable, uncountable An unincorporated community and township in Nobles County, Minnesota.
countable, uncountable A township and village therein, in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, named after Samuel Ransom.

Thesaurus

Closest in meaning: redeem, ransom money, hostage, bailout, bail-out, rescue, reward, rescuing, redemption, extortion, blackmail, blackmailing, price, buy-back, encashment, liberation

Translations

Every language

noun money paid for the freeing of a hostage

Español	rescate
한국어	몸값 momgap
日本語	身代金 minoshirokin
中文	贖金 /赎金 shújīn
हिन्दी	फिरौती phirautī, मुक्तिधन muktidhan
Kiswahili	fidia
Português	resgate
Français	rançon
Deutsch	Lösegeld
Italiano	riscatto
Ελληνικά	λύτρα lýtra
Русский	вы́куп výkup
العربية	فِدْيَة fidya
עברית	כּוֹפֵר kofer

verb to pay a price to set someone free

Español	rescatar, pagar la extorsión por
中文	贖回 /赎回 shúhuí, 贖身 /赎身 shúshēn
हिन्दी	फिरौती देना phirautī denā
Kiswahili	fidia
Português	pagar resgate
Français	rançonner
Deutsch	(mit Lösegeld) freikaufen, auslösen, loskaufen
Ελληνικά	λυτρώνω lytróno
Русский	выкупа́ть vykupátʹ, вы́купить výkupitʹ
العربية	اِفْتَدَى iftadā, فَدَى fadā
עברית	לפדות lifdot

verb to exact a ransom for, or a payment on

Deutsch	auspressen

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Cite this

MLA

"ransom." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/ransom. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

ransom. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/ransom

Chicago

"ransom." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/ransom.

BibTeX

@misc{ransom_2026,
  title = {ransom},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/ransom},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}