What does prisoner mean?
A prisoner is a person who is imprisoned or held in custody by the state or another authority. The word applies to people serving a prison sentence, those detained while awaiting trial, and, in some contexts, members of the military captured during conflict. It is also used figuratively for someone trapped by debt, habit, circumstance, or an unbreakable obligation. In ordinary discussion, the word has a relatively neutral legal meaning, although it may imply loss of freedom and can carry strong emotional associations depending on the circumstances. Related expressions include “prisoner of war” and “political prisoner.” The term is common in both British and American English and is used in journalism, law, history, literature, and everyday speech. Its significance lies in describing a person’s legally or physically constrained freedom while avoiding the implication that every person confined by authorities has necessarily been found guilty of an offense.
nounA person who is imprisoned or otherwise held in custody by the state or another authority.
- A person who is imprisoned or detained in custody by the state or another authority.
- A person captured and held by an opposing force, especially in wartime.
"The prisoner was released after the court overturned the conviction."
"A growing number of prisoners are being held without trial."
"The officer refused to take the wounded soldier prisoner."
The standard plural adds “-s.”
"The authorities negotiated with the prisoners over the remaining charges."
Behind every prisoner is an important legal distinction: being detained by law does not necessarily mean that a person has been convicted of a crime.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does prisoner come from?
The word entered Middle English in the form “prisouner,” borrowed through Anglo-Norman and Old French from Latin prīsonārius, meaning “prisoner.” The Latin term was derived from prīsio, a word for a prison or place of confinement whose ultimate origin is uncertain. The modern form developed through the loss of the final syllable in the French-derived word. Related forms include Latin prīsō, giving English “prison,” while cognates include French prisonnier and Spanish prisionero.
How prisoner is actually used
The term is formal and generally denotes detention by an authority, whether as punishment, for investigation, or as a consequence of capture in war. In a legal context, it does not by itself imply that the person has been convicted.