Definition

Noun: A person who has been captured and is being held by an enemy force during a war. This status is defined by international agreements, such as the Geneva Conventions, which grant specific rights and protections to these individuals.

Usage

The term is used to describe the legal and military status of a captured combatant. It is a formal, specific term used in international law, military contexts, and historical accounts.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The soldiers were treated humanely after being designated as prisoners of war.
  • The Geneva Conventions outline the proper treatment of a prisoner of war.
  • Historians studied the diaries of a prisoner of war to understand the camp conditions.

Advanced Usage

• "To be taken prisoner of war": This phrase describes the act of being captured and acquiring this status.
  • He was taken prisoner of war during the battle and held for three years.

Variants and Related Words

• POW: The common initialism for "prisoner of war."
  • The museum had an exhibit on the experiences of POWs.
• Captive: A more general term for anyone held prisoner.
• Internee: A person who is confined, especially for political or military reasons, but not necessarily with the specific legal status of a prisoner of war.

Synonyms

• Captive
• Detainee (though this can have a broader, non-military application)

Related Phrases

• Prisoner-of-war camp: A camp specifically built to detain prisoners of war.
  • The prisoner-of-war camp was liberated by allied forces.
• To be held as a prisoner of war: A phrase emphasizing the state of detention.
  • She was held as a prisoner of war for over a year.

Noun

1. a person who surrenders to (or is taken by) the enemy in time of war