Legal Definitions - captive

Definition: A captive is a person or animal that is held against their will.

Examples:

• A person who is kidnapped and held for ransom is a captive.
• A prisoner in jail is also a captive.
• A wild animal that is caught and kept in a zoo or circus is a captive.

These examples illustrate the different types of captives. The first two examples are of human captives, one being held for ransom and the other being imprisoned. The third example is of an animal captive, which is a wild animal that is caught and kept confined in a zoo or circus.