Prisoner: meaning, definitions and examples
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prisoner
[ ˈprɪz.ə.nər ]
in jail
A person who is confined in prison as a punishment for a crime or while awaiting trial.
Synonyms
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.
of war
A person captured and held by an enemy during a war.
Synonyms
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| prisoner |
Commonly used for someone who is serving time in a prison as a punishment for a crime. It is a general term.
|
| captive |
Best used when someone is being held by force, typically in a situation of war or kidnapping.
|
| POW |
An acronym for 'Prisoner of War,' used specifically to describe a soldier who has been captured by the enemy during a conflict.
|
| detainee |
Appropriate for someone who is kept in custody, often temporarily, typically by law enforcement or during investigations.
|
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
Etymology
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.