captivity
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captivity
The state in which a person or animal is held captive and has no freedom. This can refer to prisoners of war, inmates, or animals in cages.
Nach fünf Jahren in Gefangenschaft wurde der Soldat endlich freigelassen.
After five years in captivity, the soldier was finally released.
The word consists of 'gefangen' (the past participle of 'fangen' (to catch)) and the ending '-schaft', which describes a state. So 'Gefangenschaft' (captivity) is literally the state of being captured.
Der Löwe wurde in Gefangenschaft geboren und kann nicht ausgewildert werden.
The lion was born in captivity and cannot be released into the wild.
The prepositions 'in' and 'aus' are central here. 'In Gefangenschaft' (in captivity) describes the state or movement into it, while 'aus der Gefangenschaft' (out of captivity) expresses liberation or escape from it.
Der Spion geriet in Gefangenschaft.
The spy was taken into captivity.
You can recognize the figurative meaning by the fact that it is often connected with abstract terms. For example, people speak of the 'Gefangenschaft der Gewohnheit' (captivity of habit) or the 'Gefangenschaft der eigenen Gedanken' (captivity of one's own thoughts).
Sie fühlte sich wie in der Gefangenschaft einer langweiligen Routine.
She felt as if she were in the captivity of a boring routine.
freedom
'die Freiheit' and 'die Gefangenschaft' are opposites when talking about the state of a person or an animal. Here, 'Freiheit' means that someone is not locked up and can move around. 'Gefangenschaft' means that someone is being held captive and has no freedom. The contrast is very direct: someone who is in captivity has no freedom; someone who is released lives in freedom again.
Das Tier hat lange in Gefangenschaft gelebt und ist sehr scheu.
The animal lived in captivity for a long time and is very shy.
Nach der Rettung konnte der Vogel wieder in Freiheit leben.
After being rescued, the bird could live in freedom again.