Definition of ransom Ransom

/ɹæˈnsʌm/ - [ransum] - ran•som

We found 19 definitions of ransom from 8 different sources.

What does ransom mean?

WordNet

Noun Plural: ransoms
ransom - the act of freeing from captivity or punishment
		recovery, retrieval the act of regaining or saving something lost (or in danger of becoming lost)
ransom - payment for the release of someone
		defrayal, defrayment, payment the act of paying money
ransom - money demanded for the return of a captured person
		ransom money
		cost the total spent for goods or services including money and time and labor
Verb ransoms, ransoming, ransomed
ransom - exchange or buy back for money; under threat
		redeem
		interchange, exchange, change reverse (a direction, attitude, or course of action)
		criminal offence, criminal offense, law-breaking, crime, offence, offense (criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act; "a long record of crimes"

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Wiktionary

ransom (Noun)
Money paid for the freeing of a hostage.
ransom (Verb)
To deliver, especially in context of sin or relevant penalties.
ransom (Verb)
To pay a price to set someone free from captivity or punishment.
ransom (Verb)
To exact a ransom for, or a payment on.

Webster DictionaryWebster's Unabridged Dictionary 📘

ransom (n.)
The release of a captive, or of captured property, by payment of a consideration; redemption; as, prisoners hopeless of ransom.
ransom (n.)
The money or price paid for the redemption of a prisoner, or for goods captured by an enemy; payment for freedom from restraint, penalty, or forfeit.
ransom (n.)
A sum paid for the pardon of some great offense and the discharge of the offender; also, a fine paid in lieu of corporal punishment.
ransom (n.)
To redeem from captivity, servitude, punishment, or forfeit, by paying a price; to buy out of servitude or penalty; to rescue; to deliver; as, to ransom prisoners from an enemy.
ransom (n.)
To exact a ransom for, or a payment on.

OmegaWiki DictionaryOmegaWiki Dictionary Ω

ransom
Money paid for the freeing of a hostage.
ransom
To pay a price to set someone free from captivity or punishment.

Chambers DictionaryChamber's 20th Century Dictionary 📕

ransom
ran′sum, n. price paid for redemption from captivity or punishment: release from captivity: atonement: expiation.—v.t. to redeem from captivity, punishment, or ownership: (Shak.) to set free for a price: (Shak.) to expiate.—adj. Ran′somable.—n. Ran′somer.—adj. Ran′somless, without ransom: incapable of being ransomed. [Fr. rançon—L. redemptio; cf. Redemption.]

Sailor's Word-BookThe Sailor's Word-Book ⛵

ransom
Money paid for the liberty of a war-prisoner, a city, or for the restoration of a captured vessel: formerly much practised at sea. It then fell into disuse, but was revived for a time in the seventeenth century. At length the greater maritime powers prohibited the offering or accepting such ransoms. By English law, all such securities shall be absolutely void; and he who enters into any such contract shall forfeit £500 on conviction. A privateer taking ransom forfeits her letters of marque, and her commander is punishable with a heavy penalty and imprisonment.

Wikipedia

If people talk about that they need to pay money to the state or the police, to get free, the correct legal term used is usually bail.

Often in piracy, pirates would steal something or someone important and demand a ransom payment.

Part of speech

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ransom, verb, present, 1st person singular of ransom (infinitive).
ransom, verb (infinitive).
ransom, noun, singular of ransoms.

Pronunciation

Word frequency

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Sign Language

ransom in sign language