pris·on·er 
/ˈprɪzn̩ɚ/ noun
plural pris·on·ers /ˈprɪzn̩ɚ/ noun [count] 1 : a person who is kept in a prison
▪ The prisoners [=inmates] have two hours of exercise per day. ▪ a political prisoner [=a person put in prison because of his or her political beliefs] 2 : a person who has been captured and is being kept somewhere
▪ He was captured by rebel forces and kept as their prisoner for several months before they set him free. ▪ They took him prisoner. = He was taken prisoner. [=they captured him and made him their prisoner] ▪ The families were held/kept prisoner for four days. — sometimes used figuratively ▪ She's a prisoner of her fears. [=she is controlled by her fears]
▪ The prisoners [=inmates] have two hours of exercise per day. ▪ a political prisoner [=a person put in prison because of his or her political beliefs]
▪ He was captured by rebel forces and kept as their prisoner for several months before they set him free. ▪ They took him prisoner. = He was taken prisoner. [=they captured him and made him their prisoner] ▪ The families were held/kept prisoner for four days. — sometimes used figuratively ▪ She's a prisoner of her fears. [=she is controlled by her fears]
take no prisoners
: to deal with the people you are competing with or trying to defeat in a very harsh way without mercy
▪ He takes no prisoners when it comes to running the business. — see also take-no-prisoners
▪ He takes no prisoners when it comes to running the business. — see also take-no-prisoners
