prison

1 of 2

noun

pris·​on ˈpri-zᵊn How to pronounce prison (audio)
1
: a state of confinement or captivity
2
: a place of confinement especially for lawbreakers
specifically : an institution (such as one under state jurisdiction) for confinement of persons convicted of serious crimes compare jail

prison

2 of 2

verb

prisoned; prisoning; prisons

Examples of prison in a Sentence

Noun The state plans to build two more prisons. He was in prison at the time. If caught, they're all going to prison. She was sent to prison for robbery. He was released from prison. He's scheduled to get out of prison next month. Her marriage became a prison to her.
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.
Noun
Life without parole for Highland Park shooter The man who killed seven people and wounded nearly 50 in a mass shooting in 2022 in Highland Park, Illinois, was sentenced April 24 to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025 Petties was sentenced to life in prison in 2013 at age 36 for his trafficking career and connection to multiple homicides. Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 25 Apr. 2025 Steven Hirsch/New York Post via AP, Pool If convicted, Hemphill could spend the rest of his life in prison. CBS News, 25 Apr. 2025 Mangione could face life in prison on state charges alone In addition to the federal indictment, Mangione has been charged in Pennsylvania and New York. Juliana Kim, NPR, 25 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for prison

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin prehension-, prehensio act of seizing, from prehendere to seize — more at get

First Known Use

Noun

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of prison was in the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prison.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prison. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

prison

noun
pris·​on
ˈpriz-ᵊn
1
: a state of confinement or captivity
2
: a place where criminals or prisoners are locked up

Legal Definition

prison

noun
pris·​on
: an institution usually under state control for confinement of persons serving sentences for serious crimes compare house of correction, house of detention, jail, lockup, penitentiary

More from Merriam-Webster on prison

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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