bail

1 of 7

noun (1)

ˈbāl

Synonyms of bail next

: a container used to remove water from a boat

bail

2 of 7

verb (1)

bailed; bailing; bails

transitive verb

: to clear (water) from a boat by dipping and throwing over the side

—usually used with out

bailing water out of the boat

: to clear water from by dipping and throwing

—usually used with out

had to start bailing out the rowboat

intransitive verb

: bail out sense 2

You can't say he has ever bailed when things got tough, because that's just not true.—

Richard Hoffer

Before the party moved elsewhere, I bailed, exhausted.—

Steve Hirdt

bail

3 of 7

noun (2)

law : the temporary release of a prisoner in exchange for security (see security sense 2a) given for the prisoner's appearance at a later hearing

being held without bail

The suspect is now out on bail.

law : security given for the release of a prisoner on bail

Bail was set at $300,000.

a motion to reduce bail

law : one who provides bail

bail

4 of 7

verb (2)

bailed; bailing; bails

transitive verb

: to temporarily release (a prisoner) in exchange for security (see security sense 2a) given for appearance at a later hearing : to release under bail (see bail entry 3 sense 1)

: to procure the release of by giving bail (see bail entry 3 sense 2)

—often used with out

Her lawyer bailed her out of jail.

: to help from a predicament

—used with out

His parents are always bailing him out of trouble.bail out impoverished countries

bailable

ˈbā-lə-bəl

adjective

bail

5 of 7

noun (3)

: a U-shaped strip used to support something (such as the cover of a wagon or the canopy of a small boat)

: a hinged bar for holding paper against the platen of a typewriter

: a usually arched handle (as of a kettle or pail)

bail

6 of 7

verb (3)

bailed; bailing; bails

transitive verb

: to deliver (personal property) in trust to another for a special purpose and for a limited period

bail

7 of 7

noun (4)

chiefly British

: a device for confining or separating animals

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Since his arrest, Masterson has been out of jail on a $3.3 million bail. —

Kelly Wynne, Peoplemag, 31 May 2023 He is charged with second-degree assault and three counts of assaulting an officer in the case, records show, and is being held without bail ahead of a release hearing. —

oregonlive, 30 May 2023 Dinis Moreira, 69, pleaded not guilty to one count of murder and was ordered held without bail, Plymouth District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz said in a statement. —

Adam Sennott, BostonGlobe.com, 26 May 2023 King is being held without bail and his next court date is set for June 5. —

David K. Li, NBC News, 24 May 2023 Maxwell was initially released on bond, but has been in custody since August 2022, when his bail was revoked. —

Kerry Breen, CBS News, 24 May 2023 In a Tuesday filing, the Ninth Circuit court denied her request to remain free on bail pending her appeal. —

Catherine Thorbecke, CNN, 17 May 2023 His bail was set at $123,500 as of Tuesday, and his attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment. —

Isabella Volmert, Dallas News, 16 May 2023 The Marine Corps veteran who placed Jordan Neely in a fatal chokehold on a New York City subway was charged with second-degree manslaughter and released from custody after a judge set bail at $100,000. —

James Fanelli, wsj.com, 12 May 2023

Verb

Officers chased the car on a freeway and city streets until Walker bailed from the still-moving vehicle, ignored officers' commands and ran into a parking lot where he was killed while wearing a ski mask, bodycam video showed. —

CBS News, 17 Apr. 2023 The bill also revises several statutes related to bail, pretrial detention and pretrial release, including prohibiting certain offenders from being released prior to their first appearance. —

Amanda Rabines, Orlando Sentinel, 14 Apr. 2023 Starter Adam Wainwright struggled in the opening inning, but St. Louis Cardinals teammate Paul Goldschmidt bailed him out with a two-run homer in the bottom of the first. —

Jesse Yomtov, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2023 Liu was released without charge and without having to post bail the following day and quickly returned to China. —

Kathleen Magramo, CNN, 3 Oct. 2022 In such cases, the buyer can bail with minimal consequences. 6. —

Byard Duncan, ProPublica, 17 May 2023 Following the controversy over Perrone’s e-mail, the School Committee’s second choice for superintendent bailed after high school students raised concerns over her comments on social media about transgender women in sports. —

Mandy Mclaren, BostonGlobe.com, 10 May 2023 Its subsequent repeal in 1999 helped create institutes that became too big to fail, encouraging bankers to make speculative bets in the belief the government would use taxpayer money to bail them out when things go wrong, critics say. —

Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 8 May 2023 In November 2022, voters overwhelmingly passed Aniah’s Law, changing Section 16 of the constitution, which concerns the right to bail, a right also covered under the 8th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. —

Carol Robinson | Crobinson@al.com, al, 21 Apr. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bail.' 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

Noun (1)

Middle English baille, from Anglo-French, bucket, from Medieval Latin bajula water vessel, from feminine of Latin bajulus porter, carrier

Verb (1)

verbal derivative of bail entry 1

Noun (2)

Middle English, custody, bail, from Anglo-French, literally, handing over, delivery, from baillier to give, entrust, hand over, from Latin bajulare to carry a burden, from bajulus porter, carrier

Verb (2)

verbal derivatiave of bail entry 3

Noun (3)

Middle English beil, baile, probably from Old English *begel, *bygel; akin to Middle Dutch beughel iron ring, hilt guard; akin to Old English būgan to bend — more at bow

Verb (3)

Anglo-French baillier

Noun (4)

perhaps from bail entry 5

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (1)

1613, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (3)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (3)

1768, in the meaning defined above

Noun (4)

1844, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of bail was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Bail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bail. Accessed 7 Jun. 2023.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

bail

1 of 5 noun

ˈbā(ə)l

: a container used to remove water from a boat

bail

2 of 5 verb

: to remove (water) from a boat by dipping and throwing over the side

—usually used with out

bail

3 of 5 noun

: the temporary release of a prisoner in exchange for a deposit of money ensuring the later appearance of the prisoner in court

: the deposit of money needed to temporarily free a prisoner

: a person who provides bail

bail

4 of 5 verb

: to get the release of (a prisoner) by giving bail

bail

5 of 5 noun

: a semicircular support

: the handle of a kettle or pail

Etymology

Noun

Middle English baille "bucket, bail," from early French baille "bucket," from Latin bajula "water container," derived from bajulus "porter, carrier"

Noun

Middle English bail "custody, bail," derived from early French baillier "to give, entrust," derived from Latin bajulare "to carry a load," from bajulus "porter, carrier"

Noun

Middle English beil, baile "half hoop, bail"

Legal Definition

bail

1 of 2 noun

ˈbāl

: the temporary release of a prisoner in exchange for security given for the prisoner's appearance at a later hearing

while free on bail

: the security given for a prisoner's release

also : the amount or terms of the security

excessive bail shall not be required —

U.S. Constitution amend. VIII

posted cash bail

motion to reduce bail

: one who provides bail and is liable for the released prisoner's appearance

bail may arrest or authorize arrest of principal—

Code of Alabama

bail

2 of 2 transitive verb

: to release on bail

: to obtain the release of by giving bail

—often used with out

: to place (personal property) under a bailment

identity of the article claimed to have been bailed—

Peet v. Roth Hotel Co., 253 N.W. 546 (1934)

Note: Property is usually bailed by putting it temporarily in the custody of another for a specific purpose, as safekeeping or delivery to a third party.

Etymology

Noun

Anglo-French, act of handing over, delivery of a prisoner into someone's custody in exchange for security, from bailler to hand over, entrust, from Old French, from Latin bajulare to carry (a burden)