prisoner
gb/pɹˈɪznɚ/ us/pɹˈɪznɚ/
A2
English
~ 2000
rab, fogvatartott, hadifogoly
NOUN
A2
1
rab
A2
fogvatartott
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a prisoner
The prisoner was sentenced to ten years in jail.
A rabot tíz év börtönre ítélték.
Several prisoners escaped during the night.
Több rab megszökött az éjszaka folyamán.
She works as a teacher for prisoners at the local jail.
The guards escorted the prisoner to the courtroom.
Learner examples
The prisoner is in a small room.
A rab egy kis szobában van.
The police take the prisoner to the station.
A rendőrök beviszik a foglyot az őrsre.
The prisoner eats lunch at noon.
The prisoner talks to a lawyer.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'prisoner' with 'guard', which is the person watching over the prisoners.
Meaning
Person held in prison
Collocations
political prisoner
|prisoner of war
|take prisoner
|release a prisoner
|free the prisoner
Synonyms
inmate (Commonly used for someone living in prison; slightly more formal.)
Antonyms
free citizen (A person not under arrest or imprisonment.)
Themes
law
|crime
|justice
|daily_life
Definition
A person who is kept in a prison by the police or government.
A person who is kept in a prison as a punishment for a crime or while waiting for trial.
NOUN
B1
2
hadifogoly
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a prisoner of [group/country]
He was taken prisoner during the battle.
A csata során hadifogságba esett.
The soldiers rescued several prisoners from the camp.
A katonák több hadifoglyot mentettek ki a táborból.
The treaty called for the exchange of prisoners of war.
Learner examples
They take him prisoner in the fight.
A harcban foglyul ejtik.
The army frees the prisoners.
A hadsereg kiszabadítja a hadifoglyokat.
He is a prisoner of the other side.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize 'prisoner of war' is a fixed expression meaning someone captured in war.
Meaning
Person captured in war
Collocations
prisoner of war
|taken prisoner
|release prisoners
|hold prisoners
Synonyms
captive (General term for someone kept against their will, not limited to war.)
Antonyms
liberated soldier (A soldier who has been freed after being held captive.)
Themes
war
|conflict
|military
|law
|politics
Definition
A person caught and kept by the enemy in a war.
A person who has been captured and is being kept by an enemy force during war or conflict.
Grammar
Dictionary form
prisoner
IPA
GB/pɹˈɪznɚ/
US/pɹˈɪznɚ/
Syllables & stress
pris - on - er (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (pris)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: prisoner
- Plural: prisoners
Word family
Expressions
hold prisoner
1/hˈoʊld pɹˈɪznɚ/
fixed phrase
Keep someone in custody
To keep someone locked up and not free to go.
Examples
- They are holding two journalists prisoner.
- The kidnappers held her prisoner for weeks.
prisoner of war
1/pɹˈɪznɚ əv wˈɔɹ/
fixed phrase
Soldier captured in battle
A soldier who is caught and kept by the enemy during a war.
Examples
- Many prisoners of war were returned after the conflict ended.
- He spent three years as a prisoner of war.
set free a prisoner
1/sˈɛt fɹˈi ə pɹˈɪznɚ/
fixed phrase
Release a prisoner from custody
To let a prisoner go free.
Examples
- The governor set free several prisoners on New Year's Day.
- They set the political prisoner free after ten years.
take prisoner
1/tˈeɪk pɹˈɪznɚ/
fixed phrase
Capture someone and hold them
To catch someone and keep them as a prisoner.
Examples
- The rebels took several soldiers prisoner.
- Police took the suspect prisoner after a long chase.