prisoner

American  

[priz-uh-ner, priz-ner] / ˈprɪz ə nər, ˈprɪz nər /

noun

1. a person who is confined in prison or kept in custody, especially as the result of legal process.

2. prisoner of war.

3. a person or thing that is deprived of liberty or kept in restraint.

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prisoner British  

/ ˈprɪzənə /

noun

1. a person deprived of liberty and kept in prison or some other form of custody as a punishment for a crime, while awaiting trial, or for some other reason

2. a person confined by any of various restraints

   we are all prisoners of time

3. informal to be uncompromising and resolute in one's actions

4. to capture and hold someone as a prisoner, esp as a prisoner of war

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Etymology

Origin of prisoner

1300–50; Middle English < Anglo-French. See prison, -er ²

Compare meaning

How does prisoner compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• inmate vs. prisoner

Example Sentences

A World War Two veteran who fought in Normandy as a teenager before becoming a prisoner of war has died at the age of 100, a charity said.

From BBC

The latest releases began early on Christmas Day, according to the Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners, an advocacy group made up of rights activists and relatives of political prisoners.

From Barron's

Yemen's Houthi rebels and its internationally recognised government said they agreed on Wednesday to recover and exchange bodies as part of a major prisoner swap, sparking hope for families of those missing in the war.

From Barron's

He was returned to Ukraine as part of a prisoner exchange earlier this year, and Bakhtar and her 17-year-old daughter moved to Odesa to reunite the family.

From The Wall Street Journal

Two North Korean prisoners of war held by Ukraine have expressed their desire to start a "new life" in South Korea, according to a letter seen by AFP on Wednesday.

From Barron's

Related Words

• captive
• convict
• detainee
• hostage