Pronunciation: [kˈaptɪv] (IPA) 
The word "captive" is spelled with six letters and pronounced /ˈkæptɪv/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The "C" is pronounced as /k/, followed by the "A" pronounced as /æ/. The "P" is pronounced as /p/ and the "T" is pronounced as /t/. The "I" is pronounced as /ɪ/ and the word ends with the letter "V", pronounced /v/. The word is commonly used to describe someone or something that is kept in captivity or confinement.
Captive is an adjective with various meanings, often used to describe a person or animal that is held or imprisoned against their will. It can also refer to something that has been taken or held under control.
Regarding individuals, captive typically refers to a person who is confined, restrained, or detained by another party. This can be in the context of war or conflict when someone is taken captive by an enemy force. In such cases, captives are often subjected to imprisonment, confinement, or forced labor. The term is also used in the animal kingdom, where it refers to creatures that are kept in captivity for various purposes, such as for displays in zoos, research, or for breeding programs to protect endangered species.
Additionally, captive can describe something or someone that is under someone else's control or influence. For example, a captive audience refers to a group of people who are forced to listen or pay attention to a certain message, often due to limited alternatives or being physically confined. In business and finance, the term captive is sometimes used to describe a subsidiary or company that is wholly owned and controlled by another organization, often established to provide specific services exclusively to its parent company.
Overall, the term captive refers to being held against one's will, confined, or under control, whether it pertains to individuals, animals, or various forms of influence or ownership.
• A prisoner taken in war; one who is charmed by beauty or enslaved by love.
• Made prisoner in war.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word captive originated from the Old French word captif, which itself comes from the Latin word captivus. The Latin term captivus is derived from the verb capere, meaning to seize or to take.
