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
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
Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 25 Feb. 2025
McFarland pleaded guilty to a $26 million wire fraud and served nearly four years in prison.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 24 Feb. 2025
After enduring a lengthy trial, being sentenced to 10 years in prison and spending some time behind bars, Tortora’s conviction was eventually fully overturned by Italy’s Supreme Court in 1987 amid widespread belief that the TV host had been the victim of corrupt judges and prosecutors.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 24 Feb. 2025
An Indiana man has been sentenced to 105 years in prison for the 2022 fatal shooting of a Dutch soldier and wounding of two others in downtown Indianapolis.
—CBS News, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prison
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Noun
In 2018, President Trump commuted the prison sentence of Alice Marie Johnson, who had served 22 years for drug trafficking and money laundering charges.
—Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 25 Feb. 2025
McFarland pleaded guilty to a $26 million wire fraud and served nearly four years in prison.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 24 Feb. 2025
After enduring a lengthy trial, being sentenced to 10 years in prison and spending some time behind bars, Tortora’s conviction was eventually fully overturned by Italy’s Supreme Court in 1987 amid widespread belief that the TV host had been the victim of corrupt judges and prosecutors.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 24 Feb. 2025
An Indiana man has been sentenced to 105 years in prison for the 2022 fatal shooting of a Dutch soldier and wounding of two others in downtown Indianapolis.
—CBS News, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prison
Cite this Entry
“Prison.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prison. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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