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prisoner

n.
US //ˈpɹɪzənɝ// UK //pɹˈɪzənɐ// pris·on·er
  1. 1 in a jail (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Law

    someone who is kept in a prison because they have committed a crime or are waiting for a trial.

    a person legally incarcerated in a prison while awaiting trial or serving a sentence.

    Example

    The prisoner was released from jail after serving ten years for his crime.

    Example

    The facility was designed to house high-security prisoners who required constant supervision by armed guards.

    Usage

    often used with the verbs 'take', 'hold', or 'release'.
  2. 2 held against their will (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a person who is captured and kept in a place by an enemy or a criminal.

    any individual held in captivity or under restraint by an opposing force or captor.

    Example

    The soldiers were taken prisoner during the battle and held for several months.

    Example

    Rebel forces claimed to have taken several high-ranking officials prisoner during the overnight raid on the capital.

    Usage

    frequently appears in the phrase 'take someone prisoner'.
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  1. 3 trapped by a situation (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    someone who feels they cannot escape a difficult situation, like a bad job or a habit.

    a person who is or feels metaphorically confined or restricted by specific circumstances or psychological states.

    Example

    She felt like a prisoner in her own home because she was too ill to go outside.

    Example

    Many employees feel like prisoners of their high salaries, unable to leave stressful roles because of their financial commitments.
Origin

From Middle English prisoner, from Old French prisonier (compare Medieval Latin prisōnārius), equivalent to prison + -er.

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