abduction
noun
ab·duc·tion
ab-ˈdək-shən 
əb-
Examples of abduction in a Sentence
discredited reports of abductions by aliens
Recent Examples on the Web
An abduction must have occurred, the child must be at risk of serious injury or death, and there has to be descriptive information about the child, the suspect or the suspect's vehicle.
—
Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
Israel’s bombing of the Gaza Strip began in October 2023, in response to the terrorist attack perpetrated by Hamas in Southern Israel on Oct. 7 that resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the abduction of 251 people.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 17 Apr. 2025
Sullivan’s abduction comes two months after renowned Islamic cleric Muhsin Hendricks was shot dead by armed men in Bethelsdorp, also in the Eastern Cape province.
—Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2025
Sullivan’s alleged abduction comes just days after that of a Chinese national, also in Gqeberha.
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abduction
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Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
Israel’s bombing of the Gaza Strip began in October 2023, in response to the terrorist attack perpetrated by Hamas in Southern Israel on Oct. 7 that resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the abduction of 251 people.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 17 Apr. 2025
Sullivan’s abduction comes two months after renowned Islamic cleric Muhsin Hendricks was shot dead by armed men in Bethelsdorp, also in the Eastern Cape province.
—Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2025
Sullivan’s alleged abduction comes just days after that of a Chinese national, also in Gqeberha.
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abduction
Cite this Entry
“Abduction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abduction. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
abduction
noun
ab·duc·tion
ab-ˈdək-shən, əb-
1
a
: the action of abducting
abduction of a robbery victim
b
: the tort or felony of abducting a person
2
: the unlawful carrying away of a wife or female child or ward for the purpose of marriage or sexual intercourse
Note: Sense 2 has its roots in common law. As statutorily defined, mainly in the nineteenth century, abduction was generally stated to include taking away or detention of a woman under a certain age, usually 16 or 18, with or without her consent or knowledge of her age.
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