prisoner of war

noun

1. a person who is captured and held by an enemy during war, especially a member of the armed forces. POW

prisoner of war

noun

1. POW. a person, esp a serviceman, captured by an enemy in time of war

Word History and Origins

Origin of prisoner of war¹

First recorded in 1670–80

Example Sentences

The movie, which recounts the 1942 sinking of a Japanese ship carrying British prisoners of war and their rescue by Chinese villagers, boasted elements of a maritime epic.

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When patriot forces captured loyalist irregulars – often called “Tories” or “refugees” – they frequently treated them not as prisoners of war but as traitors, executing them swiftly, usually by hanging.

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While Russia and Ukraine have swapped military prisoners of war before, it is very rare for Russia to release Ukrainian civilians.

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It omits the right of return for displaced Armenians to Artsakh, ignores the destruction of Armenians’ towns, homes and businesses, makes no commitment to preserve Artsakh’s cultural heritage and says nothing about prisoners of war.

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He talked about the prisoners of war who endured horrific conditions in Japanese captivity - and all the "grievous hardships" faced by innocent civilians of occupied territories.

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Related Words

• captive 
• hostage 
• prisoner