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

Reuters said that many of the prisoners exonerated through Krasner's efforts were Black. —Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024

Over the past 10 days, White Helmets already collected more than 400 dead bodies of prisoners and discovered more than 100 mass graves, Anselmo said. —Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 9 Dec. 2024

In May, Kolbe was transferred to Auschwitz and given the prisoner number 16670. —Christine Rousselle, Fox News, 8 Dec. 2024

His wife Penelope played by Juliette Binoche is a prisoner in her own home hounded by suitors vying to be king and threatening their son Telemachus. —Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 6 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