Ransom usually refers to money paid or demanded to free a capturedTaken and held by force so they cannot escape. or kidnappedTaken away illegally by force, especially a person. person. It can also be used as a verb meaning to get someone or something back by paying money under threatA warning of harm or trouble to make someone comply..
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈrænsəm/
Easy pronunciation: RAN-sum (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable.
Noun meaning money demanded for the return of a captured person.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Ransom Meaning
money someone demands to free a kidnapped or captured person
Part of speech: noun
Definition: money demanded for the return of a captured person
Example: The kidnappers demanded a huge ransom.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- ransom money — A direct term for the money demanded in a kidnapping or capture case.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Ransom
Meaning 2
money paid to get someone released
Part of speech: noun
Definition: payment for the release of someone
Example: The family paid the ransom to secure his release.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- ransom money — Can refer to the payment itself, though it is more specific than a general synonym.
Meaning 3
to get someone or something back by paying money
Part of speech: verb
Definition: exchange or buy back for money; under threat
Example: The rebels refused to ransom the hostages.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- redeem — Works in this sense, but is broader and often used in financial or formal contexts.
Meaning 4
the act of setting someone free by paying money or meeting a demand
Part of speech: noun
Definition: the act of freeing from captivity or punishment
Example: The story focuses on the ransom of the prisoners.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Ransom Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- ransom money
verb: exchange or buy back for money; under threat
- redeem
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People sometimes confuse ransom with rescue, release, or reward. Those words are related, but they do not mean the same thing.
- Ransom is often used for the money demanded or paid, not just the act of freeing someone.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does ransom mean?
Ransom usually means money demanded or paid to free someone who has been kidnapped or captured. It can also mean the act of getting someone or something back by paying that money.
Is ransom a noun or a verb?
Ransom can be both. As a noun, it means the money demanded or paid for release. As a verb, it means to get someone or something back by paying under threat.
What is a synonym for ransom?
For the noun sense, the closest synonym is ransom money. For the verb sense, redeem can work in some contexts, though it is broader and not always a perfect substitute.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
