captivity
Translation
captivity, imprisonment, confinement
Examples
The bird was born in captivity.
The bird was born in captivity.
He was held in captivity for five years.
He was held in captivity for five years.
Grammar Patterns
in captivity in a state of being imprisoned or confined The bird was born in captivity.
Similar Words
Synonyms: imprisonment, confinement, bondage; Antonyms: freedom, liberty
Etymology
From 'captive' + '-ity' (a suffix forming nouns denoting a state or condition). 'Captive' comes from Latin 'captivus' (captured).
Memory Tips
'Captivity' is the state of being a 'captive'. The '-ity' ending often means 'the state of being...'.