prisoner of war
C1Formal, legal, historical, journalistic. The abbreviation POW is common in military, historical, and informal contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A person, typically a member of the armed forces, who is captured and held by an enemy during or immediately after an armed conflict.
The term can be used metaphorically to describe someone who feels trapped or held captive in a situation not of their choosing, though this is less common. It is also used in legal contexts to refer to individuals entitled to specific protections under international law, such as the Geneva Conventions.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term implies a specific legal and humanitarian status under international law. It is not synonymous with a criminal prisoner. The concept is central to the laws of war (jus in bello).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical in both varieties. The abbreviation 'POW' is equally common.
Connotations
Carries strong connotations of international law, military history, and humanitarian treatment. It is a neutral, technical term.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties in relevant contexts (news, history, military discourse).
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[be/take/hold] + prisoner of warPOW + camp/exchange/statusVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical, political science, legal, and military studies contexts.
Everyday
Used when discussing news of conflicts, history, or films/books about war.
Technical
Core term in international humanitarian law (IHL) and military jargon.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The Red Cross visited the prisoner of war camp to monitor conditions.
- He was held as a prisoner of war for three years after his plane was shot down.
American English
- The Geneva Conventions outline the proper treatment of a prisoner of war.
- After the battle, hundreds of soldiers were processed as prisoners of war.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The museum had an exhibition about prisoners of war from World War II.
- Soldiers who are captured become prisoners of war.
- The film depicted the harsh realities of life in a prisoner of war camp.
- Negotiations for a prisoner of war exchange stalled for months.
- His status as a prisoner of war afforded him certain protections under international law.
- The memoir detailed her father's experiences as a prisoner of war and his subsequent escape.
- The tribunal examined whether the detainees qualified for prisoner of war status under Article 4 of the Third Geneva Convention.
- Historiography on the treatment of prisoners of war in the Pacific theatre remains a contentious subject.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the acronym POW - a soldier captured in war has their Power taken away.
Conceptual Metaphor
A prisoner of war is a PAWN IN A GAME (between nations/armies).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate as 'военный преступник' (war criminal). The correct equivalent is 'военнопленный'. 'Prisoner of war' is a status, not a charge.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'prisoner of war' to refer to someone imprisoned for a crime related to war (e.g., a war criminal).
- Incorrect plural: 'prisoners of wars' (correct: 'prisoners of war').
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary legal framework governing the treatment of prisoners of war?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A POW is a combatant captured during an international armed conflict, protected by specific laws of war. A hostage is a civilian or person seized and held to compel an adversary to meet certain demands, which is illegal under international law.
'Prisoner of war' is the formal, full term. 'POW' is the standard abbreviation, acceptable in all but the most formal legal writing.
Traditionally, it applies to international armed conflicts. In non-international conflicts (civil wars), captured combatants are often legally termed 'persons deprived of liberty' but may colloquially be called prisoners of war.
The plural is 'prisoners of war'. The 'of war' part remains singular.