incarceration
noun
in·car·cer·a·tion
(ˌ)in-ˌkär-sə-ˈrā-shən 
plural incarcerations
: confinement in a jail or prison : the act of imprisoning someone or the state of being imprisoned
Despite the drop in crime in past decades, rates of arrest and incarceration in New York City have not gone down.—
Robin Steinberg
Robin SteinbergTo this day, the Supreme Court has not overruled its infamous Korematsu opinion of 1944, which validated our mass incarceration in deference to national security.—George Takei
George TakeiExamples of incarceration in a Sentence
he was bored and frustrated by his incarceration in the quarantine
sentenced to six months of incarceration for dealing in narcotics
Recent Examples on the Web
Through deeply personal storytelling, the film highlights the generational impact of mass incarceration, the resilience of families, and the urgent need for systemic change.
—Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 15 Apr. 2025
Many of the recipients are working on projects responding to issues including climate change, Indigenous studies, identity, democracy and politics, incarceration, and the evolving purpose of community.
—News Desk, Artforum, 15 Apr. 2025
Imagine trying to make one of the most consequential decisions of your life — whether to take a deal or to fight your case and risk incarceration — without ever seeing the evidence against you.
—Chris Alexander, New York Daily News, 13 Apr. 2025
Turner was remanded into U.S. Marshals custody, and the judge recommended her incarceration at the Miami Federal Detention Center until her sentencing.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incarceration
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Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 15 Apr. 2025
Many of the recipients are working on projects responding to issues including climate change, Indigenous studies, identity, democracy and politics, incarceration, and the evolving purpose of community.
—News Desk, Artforum, 15 Apr. 2025
Imagine trying to make one of the most consequential decisions of your life — whether to take a deal or to fight your case and risk incarceration — without ever seeing the evidence against you.
—Chris Alexander, New York Daily News, 13 Apr. 2025
Turner was remanded into U.S. Marshals custody, and the judge recommended her incarceration at the Miami Federal Detention Center until her sentencing.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incarceration
Cite this Entry
“Incarceration.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incarceration. Accessed 26 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
incarceration
noun
in·car·cer·a·tion
in-ˌkär-sə-ˈrā-shən
1
: a confining or state of being confined
2
: abnormal retention or confinement of a body part
specifically
: a constriction of the neck of a hernial sac so that the hernial contents become irreducible
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