The term ransom refers to the practice of holding a prisoner to extort money or property extorted to secure their release, or to the sum of money involved. Holding people for ransom has occurred throughout history. In 78 BC, pirates of modern-day Turkey captured Julius Caesar and held him on Pharmacusa until someone paid a fee for him.

In Christianity, ransom is the shed blood of Jesus Christ, which made deliverance from sin and death possible for the offspring of Adam.

Ransom or Ransome occurs sometimes as an English surname, and from that it is found in some tradenames and company names.

Ransom is the name of several places in the United States:

• Ransom, Illinois
• Ransom, Kansas
• See also:
  • Ransom Canyon, Texas
  • Ransom County, North Dakota
  • Ransom Township, Michigan
  • Ransom Township, Minnesota
  • Ransom Township, Pennsylvania
  • Ransomville, New York

Ransom was also the title of a 1996 movie directed by Ron Howard starring Mel Gibson, Rene Russo and Gary Sinise.

When ransom means the payment, the word comes via Old French rançon from Latin redemptio = "buying back": compare "redemption".
When it is the surname, it comes from "Ranolf's son" or similar.