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
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
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
5 July 2026
Hong Kong — A pastor who founded one of China’s most prominent underground churches has been released from prison and reunited with his family in the United States, his daughter told CNN.
—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
5 July 2026
Bea L. Hines,
Miami Herald,
5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prison
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.
Noun
Kohberger later pleaded guilty to four counts of murder and was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
5 July 2026
Hong Kong — A pastor who founded one of China’s most prominent underground churches has been released from prison and reunited with his family in the United States, his daughter told CNN.
—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
5 July 2026
Verb
The challenge of being a Black single mother bringing up two boys in a society that seemed to want to make going to prison a rite of passage for them.
—
Bea L. Hines,
Miami Herald,
5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prison
Cite this Entry
“Prison.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prison. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
