jailer

noun

jail·​er ˈjā-lər How to pronounce jailer (audio)
variants or less commonly jailor
1
: a keeper of a jail
2
: one that restricts another's liberty as if by imprisonment

Examples of jailer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Moreno is the jailer shown on the video kneeling on Johnson’s back, and Garcia was a supervisor. Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Feb. 2025 He’s been at the Turner Guilford Knight correctional center since and prosecutors and jailers say he will be tried in Miami-Dade Circuit Court. Charles Rabin, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2025 The officers are going to have an unstructured and uninterrupted conversation with a troublesome man in their custody, the first of many planned for benefit of jailers and jailed. Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2025 Johnson’s death was ruled a homicide, and two jailers face murder charges. Cody Copeland, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for jailer

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of jailer was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Jailer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jailer. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

jailer

noun
jail·​er
variants or jailor
: a keeper of a jail

Legal Definition

jailer

noun
jail·​er
: a keeper of a jail

More from Merriam-Webster on jailer

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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