POW
n. countable C1 Advanced US //ˈpaʊ// UK //pˈaʊ// pow
n. Stands for prisoner of war. A soldier who is caught and held by the enemy during a war.
n. Abbreviation for prisoner of war, referring to a person held in custody by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict.
The soldiers were taken as POWs during the battle.
International laws set strict rules for how a country must treat a POW during a conflict.
Historians have documented the harrowing experiences of those held in POW camps, focusing on the psychological toll of prolonged captivity and the complex social structures that emerged among the detainees.
Usage
Usually written in capital letters; the plural form is 'POWs'.