What does imprisoner mean?
A prisoner is a person who is held in custody, usually in prison, after being arrested, detained, or convicted. The word can refer to people awaiting trial, those serving criminal sentences, and members of the armed forces captured during warfare. It is also used figuratively for someone who feels trapped by circumstances, duty, emotion, or difficult conditions, as in the phrase “prisoner of fate.” In legal and historical writing, related terms may be more precise: an inmate is someone confined in a particular institution, a detainee is someone held by authorities, and a convict has been convicted of an offence. “Prisoner” remains the broad, widely understood term for a person deprived of liberty because of legal or military detention.
A person who is held in custody, especially in prison, because of arrest, detention, or conviction.
"The authorities questioned the prisoner for several hours."
The word can denote a person awaiting trial as well as someone already serving a sentence.
A person who is figuratively confined or unable to escape circumstances, constraints, or emotional pressures.
"She was a prisoner of her own doubts."
This use is figurative and commonly occurs in literary, formal, or rhetorical contexts.
The regular plural is “prisoners”; “prisoner's” is the singular possessive form, as in “the prisoner's release.”
"The two prisoners were transferred to a federal facility."
The word can describe not only a person behind bars, but also anyone figuratively trapped by circumstance, passion, or duty.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does imprisoner come from?
The word entered Middle English in the form “prysoner” and came through Anglo-French from Old French prisonier, meaning a person imprisoned. The Old French word was based on the root represented by prison, which also developed the English family “imprison,” “imprisonment,” and “imprisoning.” The modern English form reflects the influence of the longer Anglo-French and French spellings, while the pronunciation and meaning became established in English.
How imprisoner is actually used
The term is neutral in general use. In legal and historical contexts, it may refer to a person awaiting trial, a person serving a sentence, or a detainee held by hostile forces. The figurative use is established but is more literary or rhetorical.
Easily confused with imprisoner
A prisoner is anyone held in custody, while a convict is specifically someone who has been found guilty of a crime and is serving a sentence.