This is the 4756th most frequent Russian word.
заложников
"Заложников" means "hostages" in English.
In this sentence, 'заложники' is used to refer to people who are being held captive against their will, serving as leverage or bargaining tools.
В ходе операции были освобождены все заложники.
During the operation, all hostages were rescued.
Here, 'заложников' again denotes individuals forcibly detained, highlighting the conditions of their captivity.
Заложников держали в подземной комнате без окон.
The hostages were kept in a windowless underground room.
In this context, 'заложников' is used in a legal or strategic discourse, discussing the situation or conditions surrounding the hostages.