Words / B2

kap-TIV-uh-tee/kæpˈtɪvəti/

Captivity is the state of being kept as a prisoner or in a zoo (usually uncountable): in captivity; breeding in captivity. Captive is the person or animal (previous); prison is a building. Breeding in captivity featured in the species-recovery case. Mix-up: capacity (already in the dictionary); capture. Do not write “a captivity” as a countable holiday.

Meaning

The state of being kept as a prisoner or in a zoo (usually uncountable).

Examples

• “Breeding in captivity featured in the species-recovery case.”
• “Years in captivity featured in the memoir source, which is the prisoner sense.”

Good to know

in captivity; breeding in captivity. Person/animal: captive. Trap: capacity. Biology, history, and news. The state of being held, not a zoo’s ticket price.

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