Just as English is full of nouns referring to places where prisoners are confined, from the familiar (jail and prison) to the obscure (calaboose and bridewell), so we have multiple verbs for the action of putting people behind bars. Some words can be used as both nouns and verbs, if in slightly different forms: one can be jailed in a jail, imprisoned in a prison, locked up in a lockup, or even jugged in a jug. Incarcerate does not have such a noun equivalent in English—incarceration refers to the state of confinement rather than a physical structure—but it comes ultimately from the Latin noun carcer, meaning “prison.” Incarcerate is also on the formal end of the spectrum when it comes to words related to the law and criminal justice, meaning you are more likely to read or hear about someone incarcerated in a penitentiary or detention center than in the pokey or hoosegow.
Recent Examples on the WebThe formerly incarcerated turn to entrepreneurship as an alternative to low wages and a lack of opportunity.—Neil Senturia, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 May 2024 Both Carters have been incarcerated at Rappahannock Regional Jail.—Chris Pandolfo, Fox News, 18 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for incarcerate
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'incarcerate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Latin incarceratus, past participle of incarcerare, from in- + carcer prison
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