A prisoner, also known as an inmate or detainee, is a person who is deprived of liberty against their will. This can be by confinement or captivity in a prison or physical restraint.

The meaning of PRISONER is a person deprived of liberty and kept under involuntary restraint, confinement, or custody; especially : one on trial or in prison. How to use prisoner in a sentence.

Prisoner definition: a person who is confined in prison or kept in custody, especially as the result of legal process.. See examples of PRISONER used in a sentence.

PRISONER definition: 1. a person who is kept in prison as a punishment: 2. to catch and guard someone so that they…. Learn more.

Define prisoner. prisoner synonyms, prisoner pronunciation, prisoner translation, English dictionary definition of prisoner. n. 1. A person held in custody, captivity, or a condition of …

A prisoner is a person who is kept in a prison as a punishment or because they have been captured by an enemy.

Commonly, a prisoner is a criminal who is serving a prison sentence after being convicted of a crime, or a person who has been arrested by law enforcement and is being held in custody …

Nov 1, 2025 · From Middle English prisoner, from Old French prisonier (compare Medieval Latin prisōnārius), equivalent to prison +‎ -er.

A prisoner is a person being held in prison as a punishment. During wartime a prisoner is someone held captive by the enemy. Alternately, if you’re so attractive you can’t leave the …

There are five meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun prisoner, one of which is labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.