prisoner swap
Trading detained individuals
A prisoner swap is an exchange of captives between opposing sides—typically governments trading detained individuals.
The term appears most often in wartime, espionage contexts, or diplomatic negotiations: The two countries agreed to a prisoner swap at the border.
Swaps may involve unequal numbers when one side holds someone the other particularly wants back.
- captivityState of being confined
- hostageCaptive held as security
- diplomatic negotiationOfficial discussion between nations
- detaineePerson held in custody
- exchangeMutual giving and receiving
back channel talks · spy exchange · peace talks · rescue operations · truce · ceasefire · liberation · repatriation · concession · backchannel · humanitarian law · quid pro quo · unlawful confinement · reconciliation · crisis management · ransom · cold war · hostage release
- exchangestrading, barter, bartering, exchange rate, stock exchange
- US-Irannuclear deal, hostage crisis, Iran-Contra, diplomatic ties, Tehran
- diplomacyembassy, ambassador, ambassadors, treaty, treaties
- Diplomatic Agreementspeace treaty, peace accord, peace agreement, peace deal, accord
- spy operationscovert ops, black ops, infiltration, exfiltration, deep cover
prisoner swappardon
Official release from punishment
amnesty · ransom payment · extradition · clemency · deportation
prisoner swapindefinite detention
Imprisonment without set duration
life sentence · capture · arrest · imprisonment · hostage crisis
prisoner swapdetention
Temporary official holding
imprisonment · arrest · incarceration · rendition · kidnapping
prisoner, swap, prison, prisons, prisoners, imprisoned, imprison, imprisons, imprisoning