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

Gamblers would bet on the fates of prisoners awaiting execution and of prominent people whose illnesses were reported on in the newspaper. — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026

Gifford Doxsee was one of the fifteen prisoners, along with Vonnegut, who were assigned to work at the König malt factory. — Literary Hub, 31 Aug. 2026

This was discontinued when SOE chiefs realized that a dagger would be the first thing taken from a prisoner. — David Szondy august 30, New Atlas, 30 Aug. 2026

West Virginia was paid for housing each federal prisoner, and the state’s prison administration was desperate for this revenue. — Ella Siegrist, The Conversation, 28 Aug. 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