prisonerprisoner /ˈprɪzənɚ/ ●●● W3 noun [countable] 1
someone who is kept in a prison as a punishment for a crime: Several of the prisoners are serving life terms.THESAURUSconvict – someone who has been proven to be guilty of a crime and sent to prison: There were convicts working along the side of the road in bright orange jumpsuits.inmate – someone who is kept in a prison or a mental hospital: Many of the inmates work in the prison kitchen or laundry room.2someone who is taken by force and kept somewhere, for example during a war: keep/hold somebody prisoner Rebels held him prisoner for four months. Six soldiers were killed and three were taken prisoner.THESAURUScaptive – someone who is kept as a prisoner, especially in a war: The rebels are holding 54 captives.hostage – someone who is kept as a prisoner by an enemy or criminal so that the other side will do what the enemy or criminal demands: A police negotiator tried to get the bank robbers to release the hostages.prisoner of war (also POW) – a member of the military who is caught by the enemy during a war and kept as a prisoner: Her father was a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War.3someone who is completely controlled by a particular situation or feeling: prisoner of He was a prisoner of his own prejudices.4take no prisoners to show no sympathy to other people when you are trying to achieve something
someone who is kept in a prison as a punishment for a crime: Several of the prisoners are serving life terms.THESAURUSconvict – someone who has been proven to be guilty of a crime and sent to prison: There were convicts working along the side of the road in bright orange jumpsuits.inmate – someone who is kept in a prison or a mental hospital: Many of the inmates work in the prison kitchen or laundry room.2someone who is taken by force and kept somewhere, for example during a war: keep/hold somebody prisoner Rebels held him prisoner for four months. Six soldiers were killed and three were taken prisoner.THESAURUScaptive – someone who is kept as a prisoner, especially in a war: The rebels are holding 54 captives.hostage – someone who is kept as a prisoner by an enemy or criminal so that the other side will do what the enemy or criminal demands: A police negotiator tried to get the bank robbers to release the hostages.prisoner of war (also POW) – a member of the military who is caught by the enemy during a war and kept as a prisoner: Her father was a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War.3someone who is completely controlled by a particular situation or feeling: prisoner of He was a prisoner of his own prejudices.4take no prisoners to show no sympathy to other people when you are trying to achieve something