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

Venezuela's National Assembly unanimously adopted the law Thursday, providing hope that hundreds of political prisoners behind bars may be soon released.

From Barron's

Groups advocating for those held in Venezuelan jails say that some 400 of the roughly 900 to 1,1000 people deemed to be political prisoners have been released in recent weeks.

From The Wall Street Journal

The U.S. military moved some 5,700 Islamic State-affiliated prisoners from detention at a network of camps in Syria to Iraq after the government takeover of the northeast in January.

From The Wall Street Journal

For most of human history, armies were untroubled by prisoners of war.

From The Wall Street Journal

His comments come shortly after the country's interim President, Delcy Rodríguez, signed an amnesty bill approved by its National Assembly that could lead to the release of hundreds of political prisoners.

From BBC

Related Words

• captive
• convict
• detainee
• hostage