prisoner of war

noun phrase

: a person captured in war

especially : a member of the armed forces of a nation who is taken by the enemy during combat

Examples of prisoner of war in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And along with exchanges of prisoners of war and noncombatants who had been detained amid the conflict, the limited cooperation between Russia and Ukraine shows that the two sides can still find a measure of middle ground, at least on humanitarian issues. —Dominique Soguel, The Christian Science Monitor, 23 May 2024

Taken as a prisoner of war, he was held for only 22 hours as the Allies pressed their advance. —Frederick N. Rasmussen, Baltimore Sun, 17 May 2024

The 3-2 affirmative vote amended the city’s policy to allow only the flying of the United States flag, the state flag, the city flag and the prisoner of war flag. —Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2024

During World War II, the base also housed German and Italian prisoners of war. —Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 14 May 2024

This roughly 4-mile out-and-back trail starts on the refuge’s southwestern side and climbs through the hills and above the Sweetwater Reservoir before reaching the mountaintop, where there is an American flag and one honoring prisoners of war and those missing in action. —Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 May 2024

Those near-fatalities included a premature birth in 1912, a bout of bovine tuberculosis in childhood, and a stretch as a Japanese prisoner of war while serving in World War II. —Gabriela Riccardi, Quartz, 8 May 2024

In the film, from director Jonathan Millet, Bessa plays Hamid, a one-time professor of literature turned prisoner of war, who, after losing both his wife and daughter in the conflict, finds himself as a refugee in France and tracking a man who could be his former torturer. —Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019

Last year, the library pulled from its own archives to help create an exhibit marking the 50th anniversary of the release of prisoners of war following the end of the Vietnam War. —Heather McRea, Orange County Register, 11 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1608, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

prisoner of war

: a member of the armed forces of a nation who has been captured by the enemy

Legal Definition

prisoner of war

: a person captured in war

especially : a member of the armed forces of a nation who is taken by the enemy during combat

Note: Under the Third Geneva Convention, a person is a prisoner of war if he or she falls in one of the following categories: 1) a member of the armed forces of a party to the conflict or of a militia or volunteer corps that is part of the armed forces; 2) a member of another militia or volunteer corps who is a lawful combatant; 3) a member of regular armed forces who profess allegiance to a government or authority not recognized by his or her captor; 4) a person who accompanies the armed forces but is not a member of it provided they have proper authority to accompany it; 5) members of the merchant marine and crews of civil aircraft who do not fall under more favorable designations under international law; and 6) inhabitants of territory facing approach of the enemy who spontaneously resist invasion and carry arms openly and respect the laws of war. Prisoners of war are entitled to certain rights (as to humane treatment) under the Convention. Two further categories of people entitled to treatment as prisoners of war are 1) persons belonging or having belonged to the armed forces of an occupied country who were liberated but have been confined especially when they have tried to rejoin the armed forces or have not complied with a summons attempting to confine them; and 2) persons falling under any of the categories of those entitled to treatment as prisoners of war who are received by neutral countries that are required to confine them by international law, with certain exceptions specified in the Convention.