prisoner

/ˈprɪzənər/

/ˈprɪzənə/

Other forms: prisoners

A prisoner is a person being held in prison as a punishment. During wartime a prisoner is someone held captive by the enemy. Alternately, if you’re so attractive you can’t leave the house, you’re a prisoner of your own good looks.

Someone who's caught robbing a bank or stealing a car will probably become a prisoner, locked inside a prison for as long as the sentence specifies. If you feel stuck or confined in some way, you may consider yourself a metaphorical prisoner, like an actor who whines that he’s a prisoner of his own success, since he’s not able to go anywhere without cameras flashing and fans screaming.

Definitions of prisoner

1. noun

   a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
   synonyms: captive

   types:

   con, convict, inmate, yard bird, yardbird

   a person serving a sentence in a jail or prison

   detainee, political detainee

   a person held in custody

   hostage, surety

   a prisoner who is held by one party to insure that another party will meet specified terms

   internee

   a person who is interned

   political prisoner

   someone who is imprisoned because of their political views

   POW, prisoner of war

   a person who surrenders to (or is taken by) the enemy in time of war

   lifer

   a prisoner serving a term of life imprisonment

   trusty

   a convict who is considered trustworthy and granted special privileges

   type of:

   unfortunate, unfortunate person

   a person who suffers misfortune