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
Synonyms
Noun
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
Michaela Zee, Variety, 27 Apr. 2024
Under a state law that says the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction can extend someone's sentence based on conduct while in prison, the pair could serve up to 16½ years.
—Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 27 Apr. 2024
She is scheduled to be sentenced in August, and faces up to five years in prison for each count.
—Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2024
An American man facing 12 years in prison in Turks & Caicos after airport security found ammunition in his duffel bag won’t have to spend one more night in jail.
—Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 27 Apr. 2024
Chae Kyong An, 54, was sentenced on Monday to 165 months in prison and three years of community custody, Thurston County, Wash., authorities told FOX 13 Seattle.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, Peoplemag, 27 Apr. 2024
The Full House actor was sentenced to two months in prison in October 2020; she was released in December 2020 just ahead of completing the full sentence.
—Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Apr. 2024
One of those arrested, a Jesuit priest and human-rights activist, died in prison for want of medical attention when suffering from complications of COVID-19.
—Ashoka Mody, The Atlantic, 26 Apr. 2024
Each count carries a maximum sentence of 4 years in prison, or a total of 136 years.
—Brian Bennett, TIME, 15 Apr. 2024
Noun
The former movie mogul will remain imprisoned as he was also convicted of rape in Los Angeles in 2022 and sentenced to an additional 16 years in prison.
—Michaela Zee, Variety, 27 Apr. 2024
Under a state law that says the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction can extend someone's sentence based on conduct while in prison, the pair could serve up to 16½ years.
—Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 27 Apr. 2024
She is scheduled to be sentenced in August, and faces up to five years in prison for each count.
—Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2024
An American man facing 12 years in prison in Turks & Caicos after airport security found ammunition in his duffel bag won’t have to spend one more night in jail.
—Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 27 Apr. 2024
Chae Kyong An, 54, was sentenced on Monday to 165 months in prison and three years of community custody, Thurston County, Wash., authorities told FOX 13 Seattle.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, Peoplemag, 27 Apr. 2024
The Full House actor was sentenced to two months in prison in October 2020; she was released in December 2020 just ahead of completing the full sentence.
—Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Apr. 2024
One of those arrested, a Jesuit priest and human-rights activist, died in prison for want of medical attention when suffering from complications of COVID-19.
—Ashoka Mody, The Atlantic, 26 Apr. 2024
Each count carries a maximum sentence of 4 years in prison, or a total of 136 years.
—Brian Bennett, TIME, 15 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prison.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near prison
Cite this Entry
“Prison.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prison. Accessed 1 May. 2024.
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