prisoner

noun

PRIZ-uh-nur/ˈpɹɪzənɚ/UKPRIZ-uh-nuh/ˈpɹɪzənə/

Pluralprisoners

3 meanings of prisoner

1
nouncountable
A person held in a prison, whether awaiting trial or serving a sentence.
The prisoner met with her lawyer the day before the hearing.
Several prisoners earned college degrees through the facility's education program.
Similarinmate, captive, convict
2
nouncountable
Anyone who is being held captive against their will.
Rebels took dozens of villagers prisoner during the raid on the border town.
He remained a prisoner in the basement until police found him two weeks later.
Similarcaptive, detainee
Oppositecaptor
3
nouncountable
Someone whose situation or circumstances hold them captive, or make them feel that way.
Years of mounting debt left her a prisoner of her own financial choices.
Critics described the CEO as a prisoner of the company's outdated traditions.
Similarslave, captive, hostage

Practice

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Origin

From Middle English prisoner, from Old French prisonier (compare Medieval Latin prisōnārius), equivalent to prison plus the suffix -er.