online vocabulary.com

Prisoner - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

A prisoner is a person who is held in custody, typically in a jail or prison, as punishment for a crime or while awaiting trial. They are deprived of their freedom under legal authority.

prisoner

/ˈprɪzənər/ /ˈprɪzənə/

Definition:

A person legally held in prison as punishment for a crime or while awaiting trial.

Synonyms:

inmate, convict, detainee, captive

Part of Speech:

noun

Antonyms:

free person, liberator

Common Collocations:

political prisoner, prisoner of war, take prisoner, hold prisoner

Derivatives:

imprisonment, prisoner's dilemma

Usage Tips:

Use "prisoner" for someone confined legally; avoid for metaphorical use unless clear context is provided.

Common Phrases:

prisoner of conscience, take someone prisoner, prisoner's dilemma

Etymology:

From Old French "prisounier," meaning "captive," derived from Latin "prehensio" (seizing).

Examples:

  • 1. The prisoner waited quietly in his cell.
  • 2. She was taken as a prisoner during the war.
  • 3. The judge sentenced the thief to ten years as a prisoner.
  • 4. Prisoners often face harsh conditions in overcrowded jails.

MORE VOCABULARY LISTS