prisoner
/ˈprɪz(ə)nə
/noun
1A person legally committed to prison as a punishment for a crime or while awaiting trial: a prisoner serving a life sentence...
- A third of all inmates are remand prisoners who are awaiting trial or sentencing.
- Certainly, the cost to society of convicted prisoners who commit further crimes as soon as they are released is a high one.
- The cells are used to hold prisoners awaiting trial, or following conviction, pending transfer to a main prison.
Synonyms
convict, inmate;
trusty
informal jailbird, con, lifer
British informal (old) lag
North American informal yardbird
archaic transport
1.1A person captured and kept confined by an enemy or criminal: she may have been held prisoner before being killed 200 rebels were taken prisoner...
- After conquering Troy, you will need to rescue some villagers that have been taken prisoner by an unknown enemy.
- He had allowed his dear friend, his sister in Christ, to be taken prisoner by their enemies.
- Taken prisoner, he was jailed and as a POW served time in Wakefield and Frongoch prisons.
Synonyms
prisoner of war, POW;
hostage, captive, detainee, internee
1.2A person who is or feels confined or trapped by a situation: he’s become a prisoner of the publicity he’s generated...
- He was a suffering prisoner of emotions trapped in a cage, but yet he was not.
- She felt trapped, like a prisoner trapped in a jail cell with no luck of escaping.
- I am a virtual prisoner in my own home from April until mid October.
Phrases
take no prisoners
Origin
Late Middle English: from Old French prisonier, from prison (see prison).