prisoners

NOUN

person jailed for crime; person kept against his or her will

Synonyms

STRONGEST

captive convict detainee hostage

STRONG

con culprit internee jailbird lag lifer loser tough yardbird

WEAK

chain gang member

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Prisoners are frequently transferred between facilities, and secrecy around detentions, compounded by the continuing nationwide internet shutdown, have made it difficult for family members and monitoring groups to find out where detainees are held.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

Prisoners for Palestine said there had been "at least 20 arrests".

From BBC • Jan. 25, 2026

The Prisoners for Palestine campaign group identified the inmate as Muhammad Umer Khalid, 22, who they say began a thirst strike on Friday.

From BBC • Jan. 25, 2026

Prisoners rejoiced upon hearing the news, but outside their relatives were tense on Saturday morning, fearing guards might punish inmates for celebrating.

From Barron's • Jan. 10, 2026

Prisoners stood guard at the door with clocks.

From "Prisoner B-3087" by Alan Gratz