prisoner

noun

pris·​on·​er ˈpriz-nər 

ˈpri-zᵊn-ər

1

: a person deprived of liberty and kept under involuntary restraint, confinement, or custody

especially : one on trial or in prison

2

: someone restrained as if in prison

a prisoner of her own conscience

see also take-no-prisoners, take no prisoners

Synonyms

• captive
• capture
• internee

Examples of prisoner in a Sentence

He was captured by rebel forces and kept as their prisoner for several months before they set him free.

The families were held prisoner for four days.

Recent Examples on the Web

The strike was part of an ongoing effort to prevent IS insurgents from taking advantage of the upheaval in Syria, including any plan to release the more than 8,000 IS prisoners held in detention by Kurds who have partnered with the U.S., Central Command said in a statement. —Abby Sewell and Matthew Lee The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 21 Dec. 2024

Mangi, Republicans claimed, with zero credible evidence, supported releasing prisoners convicted of killing police officers. —Lydia Polgreen, The Mercury News, 21 Dec. 2024

Only the final two prisoners have been convicted and sentenced by military commissions, according to the Pentagon. —Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 18 Dec. 2024

Matthew Eric Wrinkles, 49, of Evansville, was the last Indiana state prisoner to be executed. —Indianapolis Star, The Indianapolis Star, 18 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing prisoner

• co-prisoner
• political prisoner
• prisoner of conscience
• prisoner of war
• prisoner's base
• take (someone) prisoner

Kids Definition

prisoner

noun

pris·​on·​er ˈpriz-nər 

-ᵊn-ər

: a person who has been captured or locked up

Legal Definition

prisoner

noun

pris·​on·​er

: a person deprived of liberty and kept under involuntary restraint, confinement, or custody

especially : one under arrest, awaiting trial, on trial, or serving a prison sentence