1
: a person deprived of liberty and kept under involuntary restraint, confinement, or custody
especially
: one on trial or in prison
2
: someone restrained as if in prison
a prisoner of her own conscience
see also take-no-prisoners, take no prisoners
Examples of prisoner in a Sentence
He was captured by rebel forces and kept as their prisoner for several months before they set him free.
The families were held prisoner for four days.
Recent Examples on the Web
One other question is whether Israel will attempt to veto the release of some of the Palestinian prisoners to be released as part of the deal.
—
Barak Ravid, Axios, 11 July 2024
High taxes, rising food prices, the aristocracy’s extravagant spending all fueled the discontent, which came to a head when 300 strong gathered at the Bastille, seizing weapons from the armory and demanding the release of prisoners.
—Amy Drew Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 11 July 2024
Having the Same Birthday as Her Wife 'Helps' (Exclusive)
Cash, of course, was known for his prison concerts, and performed in Leavenworth for 1,200 people, meeting with prisoners and signing autographs after the show, according to KC Yesterday.
—Rachel Desantis, Peoplemag, 9 July 2024
Meanwhile, dozens of suspects are among the thousands of prisoners who escaped from Haitian prisons during the gang raid.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 7 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for prisoner 
Barak Ravid, Axios, 11 July 2024
High taxes, rising food prices, the aristocracy’s extravagant spending all fueled the discontent, which came to a head when 300 strong gathered at the Bastille, seizing weapons from the armory and demanding the release of prisoners.
—Amy Drew Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 11 July 2024
Having the Same Birthday as Her Wife 'Helps' (Exclusive)
Cash, of course, was known for his prison concerts, and performed in Leavenworth for 1,200 people, meeting with prisoners and signing autographs after the show, according to KC Yesterday.
—Rachel Desantis, Peoplemag, 9 July 2024
Meanwhile, dozens of suspects are among the thousands of prisoners who escaped from Haitian prisons during the gang raid.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 7 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for prisoner
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prisoner.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Prisoner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prisoner. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
prisoner
noun
pris·on·er
ˈpriz-nər 
-ᵊn-ər
: a person who has been captured or locked up
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