Legal Definitions - hostage

Definition: A hostage is an innocent person who is held captive by another person or group. The captor threatens to harm or kill the hostage if their demands are not met. Hostage-taking is a federal crime according to 18 USCA § 1203. In international law, a hostage is a person who is given or taken into an enemy's custody during a time of war. The hostage's freedom or life is used as security for the performance of some agreement made to the enemy by the belligerent power giving the hostage.

1. A bank robber takes hostages during a heist and demands a ransom in exchange for their release.

2. During a war, a soldier from one side is captured by the enemy and held as a hostage until their side agrees to certain terms.

These examples illustrate how a hostage is someone who is taken against their will and used as leverage to achieve a certain goal. In the first example, the captor wants money and is using the hostages as a bargaining chip. In the second example, the captor wants their demands met by the enemy and is using the hostage as a way to ensure compliance.