otage

hostage

noun oh-TAHZH Less Common

Usage Note

Otage keeps its masculine form regardless of the person's sex — un otage is used even for a woman. The expression prendre en otage means 'to take hostage', and prise d'otages is the noun phrase for a hostage-taking situation.

Examples

"Les otages ont été libérés ce matin."

Natural Translation

The hostages were freed this morning.

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