cellmate

noun

cell·​mate ˈsel-ˌmāt How to pronounce cellmate (audio)
variants or less commonly cell mate
plural cellmates also cell mates
: a person who shares a prison cell with another prisoner
When his cellmates learned that his bond had been set at $1 million (and bail at $500,000), they broke into laughter and shook their heads in disbelief.Richard Behar
Within a week, guards came by at night and told me to get ready. … I said goodbye to my cellmates and gathered my things …Clare Morgana Gillis

Examples of cellmate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In a 2021 court decision, an incarcerated man had tried to sue Bureau of Prisons officials after his cellmate stabbed him and left him blind in one eye. Christie Thompson, NPR, 17 June 2026 Among the other fan favorites who would make for exciting returns on the new show are Amaury Nolasco as Michael's loyal cellmate Fernando Sucre, William Fichtner as former FBI agent Alexander Mahone, and Robert Knepper as the despicable predator T-Bag. Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 17 June 2026 The man’s cellmate saw the medical emergency, and jail staff began to attempt life-saving measures until medical personnel from John Peter Smith Hospital arrived, according to a news release. Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 June 2026 The man’s cellmate corroborated the statement. Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 2 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for cellmate

Word History

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cellmate was in 1839

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cellmate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cellmate. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster