Words / B2

PRIZN-uh/ˈprɪznə/

A prisoner is a person kept in prison, or someone captured: a prisoner of war; release a prisoner. Prison is the place (already in the dictionary); inmate is a close twin. The source counts prisoners of war. Mix-up: prison; person. Do not write prisoner for a detained interviewee without a legal basis in the source.

Meaning

A person who is kept in prison, or who is captured.

Examples

• “The source counts prisoners of war, not a playground nickname.”
• “The prisoner gave a statement, which is the criminal-justice sense — use the source’s term.”

Good to know

a prisoner of war; political prisoners. Place: prison. Close: inmate. Trap: casual insult. History, citizenship, and news. Someone held, not a joke.

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