: any of a group occupying a single place of residence
especially
: a person confined (as in a prison or hospital)
Examples of inmate in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Though the state has long relied on prison labor to fight fires, the practice is controversial as the inmates are paid little for dangerous and difficult work.
—
Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 13 Jan. 2025
The practice is controversial as the inmates are paid little for dangerous and difficult work: $10.24 each day, with more for 24-hour shifts, according to the corrections department.
—Marc Sternfield, The Hill, 13 Jan. 2025
One of the series’ most striking aspects is its nuanced portrayal of both prison officers and inmates, achieved in part through meticulous attention to background casting.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Jan. 2025
Knight has a high school diploma but Florida only provides a college education for inmates with fewer than 10 years left to serve.
—Shirsho Dasgupta, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for inmate 
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Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 13 Jan. 2025
The practice is controversial as the inmates are paid little for dangerous and difficult work: $10.24 each day, with more for 24-hour shifts, according to the corrections department.
—Marc Sternfield, The Hill, 13 Jan. 2025
One of the series’ most striking aspects is its nuanced portrayal of both prison officers and inmates, achieved in part through meticulous attention to background casting.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Jan. 2025
Knight has a high school diploma but Florida only provides a college education for inmates with fewer than 10 years left to serve.
—Shirsho Dasgupta, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for inmate
Dictionary Entries Near inmate
Cite this Entry
“Inmate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inmate. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
inmate
noun
in·mate
ˈin-ˌmāt 
: a member of a group living in a single residence
especially
: a person kept in an institution (as a hospital or prison)
Medical Definition
inmate
noun
in·mate
ˈin-ˌmāt
: one of a group occupying a single place of residence
especially
: a person confined (as in a psychiatric hospital) especially for a long time
Legal Definition
inmate
noun
in·mate
ˈin-ˌmāt
: a person confined in an institution (as a prison or hospital)
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