prison

1 of 2

noun

pris·​on ˈpri-zᵊn 

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

transitive verb

: imprison, confine

Synonyms

Noun

• bastille
• big house [slang]
• bridewell
• brig
• calaboose
• can
• clink [slang]
• cooler
• coop
• guardroom
• hock
• hold
• hoosegow
• jail
• jailhouse
• joint [slang]
• jug
• lockup
• nick [British slang]
• pen
• penitentiary
• pokey [slang]
• quod [British slang]
• slam
• slammer
• stir [slang]
• stockade
• tolbooth [Scottish]

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

Noun

He has been sentenced him to eight years in prison alongside a series of physical punishments. —Sara Merican, Deadline, 31 Jan. 2025

He was also sentenced in May, to 27 months in prison. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 31 Jan. 2025

Though he wasn’t found guilty of the double homicide, Simpson did serve time in prison for a different crime. —Emily Blackwood, People.com, 31 Jan. 2025

Owens faced life in prison if he’d been convicted as originally charged, his attorney, Seth Morris, noted in a statement to this news organization. —Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2025

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

Phrases Containing prison

• left to rot in jail/prison
• maximum security prison
• minimum security prison
• open prison
• prison camp
• prison industrial complex
• prison time

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