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Prisoner: meaning, definitions and examples

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prisoner

 

[ ˈprɪz.ə.nər ]

Noun
Oxford 3000
Context #1 | Noun

in jail

A person who is confined in prison as a punishment for a crime or while awaiting trial.

Synonyms

convict, inmate, offender

Examples of usage

  • He was arrested and charged as a prisoner.
  • The prisoner was released on parole after serving five years.
  • She visited her brother who was a prisoner in the local jail.
Context #2 | Noun

of war

A person captured and held by an enemy during a war.

Synonyms

POW, captive, detainee

Examples of usage

  • The prisoners of war were treated humanely according to the Geneva Convention.
  • The soldiers were instructed to take the prisoners to the designated camp.

Translations

Translations of the word "prisoner" in other languages:

🇵🇹 prisioneiro

🇮🇳 कैदी (kaidi)

🇩🇪 Gefangener

🇮🇩 tahanan

🇺🇦 в'язень

🇵🇱 więzień

🇯🇵 囚人 (shūjin)

🇫🇷 prisonnier

🇪🇸 prisionero

🇹🇷 mahkum

🇰🇷 죄수 (joesu)

🇸🇦 سجين (sajeen)

🇨🇿 vězeň

🇸🇰 väzeň

🇨🇳 囚犯 (qiúfàn)

🇸🇮 zapornik

🇮🇸 fangelsi

🇰🇿 тұтқын (tutqyn)

🇬🇪 პატიმარი (patimari)

🇦🇿 məhbus

🇲🇽 prisionero

Word origin

The word 'prisoner' originated in the Middle English period, derived from the Old French 'prisonnier,' which came from the Latin 'prehendere' meaning 'to seize.' The concept of imprisonment as a form of punishment has evolved over centuries, reflecting changes in societal norms and legal systems.

See also: imprison, prisoners.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #3,710, this word is part of upper-intermediate vocabulary. While not among the most basic terms, it appears often enough to be valuable for advanced communication.