ɹˈænsəm ɪz ðə pɹˈæktɪs ʌv hˈoʊldɪŋ ɐ pɹˈɪzənɚ tʊ ɛkstˈɔːɹt mˈʌni ɔːɹ pɹˈɑːpɚɾi tə sᵻkjˈʊɹ ðɛɹ ɹᵻlˈiːs, ɔːɹ ɪt kæn ɹᵻfˈɜː tə ðə sˈʌm ʌv mˈʌni ɪnvˈɑːlvd.
Ransom is the practice of holding a prisoner to extort money or property to secure their release, or it can refer to the sum of money involved.