WordGarden.ioprisoner
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /prˈɪzənə/
US
- /ˈprɪzənər/
Meanings
Noun
a person kept in prison as punishment or while awaiting trial
a person captured and held by an enemy, armed group, or other captor
Beyond the definition
A prisoner is not just someone behind bars; it is anyone who has lost their freedom. Think of Captain Ahab chasing Moby Dick without rest. In a way, he was a prisoner of his obsession, tied to his need for revenge. Usually, we picture prisoners in cells, kept by a government or captors after a crime. But the word can also describe someone captured during war, or, in a more figurative way, someone trapped by life, addiction, or fear. A prisoner has little control over where they go or what they do.
Consider the story of Jean Valjean in Les Misérables. He was a prisoner of both the law and his past, always looking over his shoulder. The word "prisoner" carries weight; it speaks of loss, limits, and often injustice.
The word "prisoner" fundamentally describes someone who is held captive and deprived of their freedom. While most commonly associated with individuals incarcerated in jails or prisons after being convicted of a crime, the definition extends far beyond that. A prisoner can be anyone physically confined against their will – a hostage, a POW (Prisoner Of War), or even an animal trapped in a cage.
However, "prisoner" is not always about physical bars. It is also used metaphorically to describe someone held captive by something intangible. You might say someone is "a prisoner of their own making," meaning they are trapped by bad habits, fear, or regret. A person struggling with addiction could be described as a prisoner of their cravings. Someone stuck in an abusive relationship may feel like a prisoner within their own home.
Historically, the term has evolved alongside concepts of justice and punishment. In ancient times, prisoners were often slaves or used for ransom. Today, modern legal systems aim (though don't always achieve) rehabilitation alongside punishment. The word carries strong connotations of powerlessness, control, and a longing for liberation.
So whether it's the cold steel of prison bars or the invisible chains of circumstance, to be a prisoner is to have one's freedom taken away – a state that evokes empathy, outrage, and a deep understanding of the human need for autonomy.
Examples
- 1
Prison setting
The guards moved the prisoner to another cell.
- 2
Escape
Three prisoners escaped during the storm.
- 3
Political status
The government released several political prisoners after the election.
- Phrasepolitical prisoner
someone kept in prison because of their political beliefs or actions
- 4
War
Her grandfather was a prisoner of war for two years.
- Phraseprisoner of war
someone held by the enemy during a war
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Capture
The soldiers took several enemy fighters prisoner.
- Patterntake someone prisoner
capture someone and keep them under guard
- 6
Hostages
The hostages were held prisoner for three days.
- Patternhold someone prisoner
keep someone somewhere and not allow them to leave
- 7
Figurative restriction
After the accident, he felt like a prisoner in his own home.
- Phrasefeel like a prisoner
feel unable to leave or act freely
- 8
Habits
Don't become a prisoner of your routine.
- Patterna prisoner of + force/situation
controlled or limited by it
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
- free person
- guard
Used with (collocations)
- political prisoner
- prisoner of war
- take someone prisoner
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- prisonernoun
Forms
- prisonerspluralnoun