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prisoner

Syllabification: (pris·on·er)
Pronunciation: /ˈpriz(ə)nər/

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Definition of prisoner

noun

  • a person legally held in prison as a punishment for crimes they have committed or while awaiting trial.
  • a person captured and kept confined by an enemy, opponent, or criminal:the heroine was being held prisoner in a cave 200 rebels were taken prisoner
  • a person who is or feels confined or trapped by a situation or set of circumstances:he’s become a prisoner of the publicity he’s generated

Phrases

take no prisoners

be ruthlessly aggressive or uncompromising in the pursuit of one’s objectives.

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French prisonier, from prison (see prison)

prisoner in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of prisoner in the British & World English dictionary

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