prisoner
gb/pɹˈɪznɚ/ us/pɹˈɪznɚ/
A2
English
~ 2000
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
Person held in prison
A person who is kept in a prison by the police or government.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a prisoner
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'prisoner' with 'guard', which is the person watching over the prisoners.
Synonyms
inmate (Commonly used for someone living in prison; slightly more formal.)
Antonyms
free citizen (A person not under arrest or imprisonment.)
Collocations
political prisoner
|prisoner of war
|take prisoner
|release a prisoner
|free the prisoner
Themes
law
|crime
|justice
|daily_life
Examples
- The prisoner was sentenced to ten years in jail.
- Several prisoners escaped during the night.
- 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.
- The police take the prisoner to the station.
- The prisoner eats lunch at noon.
- The prisoner talks to a lawyer.
Noun
B1
entity
2
Person captured in war
A person caught and kept by the enemy in a war.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a prisoner of [group/country]
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize 'prisoner of war' is a fixed expression meaning someone captured in war.
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.)
Collocations
prisoner of war
|taken prisoner
|release prisoners
|hold prisoners
Themes
war
|conflict
|military
|law
|politics
Examples
- He was taken prisoner during the battle.
- The soldiers rescued several prisoners from the camp.
- The treaty called for the exchange of prisoners of war.
Learner examples
- They take him prisoner in the fight.
- The army frees the prisoners.
- He is a prisoner of the other side.
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.