plural prisoners
1
: a person who is kept in a prison
The prisoners [=inmates] have two hours of exercise per day.
a political prisoner [=a person put in prison because of his or her political beliefs]
2
: a person who has been captured and is being kept somewhere
He was captured by rebel forces and kept as their prisoner for several months before they set him free.
They took him prisoner. = He was taken prisoner. [=they captured him and made him their prisoner]
The families were held/kept prisoner for four days.
—sometimes used figurativelyShe's a prisoner of her fears. [=she is controlled by her fears]
Cite this Entry
“Prisoner.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/prisoner. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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