Prisoners: meaning, definitions and examples

General term for people held in prison or captivity, often used in a broad sense.

• The prisoners are allowed one hour of exercise each day
• During the war, many soldiers were taken as prisoners

People who are confined in a prison or similar institution, commonly referred to within the context of life inside prisons.

• The inmates are allowed to call their families once a week
• The new warden introduced programs to help inmates earn diplomas

People who have been found guilty of a crime by a court of law and are serving a sentence, often emphasizes their criminal record.

• The convicts were transferred to a maximum-security prison
• The prison program aims to rehabilitate convicts

People who are held in custody, often before they have been charged or sentenced, common in legal or immigration scenarios.

• The police have several detainees in custody for questioning
• Immigration authorities are processing the detainees

Refers to someone who has been captured and is being held against their will, often in the context of war or kidnapping.

• The rebels took several captives during the conflict
• The hostages were held as captives for months