prisoner

Universal Words noun 1 a person who is kept in prison as a punishment, or while they are waiting for trial: The number of prisoners serving life sentences has fallen. * They are demanding the release of all political prisoners. 2 a person who has been captured, for example by an enemy, and is being kept somewhere: He was taken prisoner by rebel soldiers. * They are holding her prisoner and demanding a large ransom. * (figurative) She is afraid to go out and has become a virtual prisoner in her own home. * (figurative) He was a prisoner of his own ignorance.