Definition

A person who has been kidnapped or taken away unlawfully.

Example

The police are working hard to find the kidnappee and bring them home safely.

Conversation

Did you hear about that movie where the kidnapee escapes from the captors?

Yeah, I saw the trailer! It looked intense.

I can't believe how realistic they made the kidnapee feel.

Right? It really adds to the suspense of the story.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Kidnapee is derived from the word 'kidnap' (from the combination of 'kid' meaning child and 'nap' meaning to seize or take). The suffix '-ee' indicates a person who is the object of an action. Therefore, a 'kidnapee' refers to a person, specifically a child, who has been taken or seized.

Memory Tip

Think of 'kid' as a child being 'taken' ('nap') — a 'kidnapee' is someone who has been taken, especially a child.

Visually Confused Words