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
Resolution 1701 Israel invaded Lebanon again in 2006 after Hezbollah killed three soldiers and kidnapped two others – in an effort to compel the release of Lebanese prisoners.
—
Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN, 26 Nov. 2024
They were released in a prisoner exchange that September.
—Ivan Nechepurenko, New York Times, 25 Nov. 2024
California For Subscribers Mexican Mafia settled scores with killing at Long Beach homeless camp, records reveal
Nov. 18, 2024
That melee started after prisoners brewed up a batch of contraband alcohol known as pruno, according to a law enforcement report reviewed by The Times.
—Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2024
The bill would ensure prisoners are paid for their work.
—Alex Golden, Axios, 22 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prisoner 
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Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN, 26 Nov. 2024
They were released in a prisoner exchange that September.
—Ivan Nechepurenko, New York Times, 25 Nov. 2024
California For Subscribers Mexican Mafia settled scores with killing at Long Beach homeless camp, records reveal
Nov. 18, 2024
That melee started after prisoners brewed up a batch of contraband alcohol known as pruno, according to a law enforcement report reviewed by The Times.
—Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2024
The bill would ensure prisoners are paid for their work.
—Alex Golden, Axios, 22 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prisoner
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Dictionary Entries Near prisoner
Cite this Entry
“Prisoner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prisoner. Accessed 1 Dec. 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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