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.
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.