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 of prisoner

• captive
• capture

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

Florida has executed the oldest prisoner in its history, the latest in a spate of capital punishments against elderly death-row inmates. — Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 16 July 2026

An Idaho prisoner who was out for the day on work release died over the weekend. — Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 15 July 2026

Iran says all prisoners in the Islamic Republic are afforded due process. — Vasco Cotovio, CNN Money, 15 July 2026

California has not executed a prisoner since 2006, but the death penalty remained legal and prosecutors continued to pursue it in select cases. — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2026

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