behind bars

phrase

Synonyms of behind barsnext
: in jail
putting criminals behind bars

Examples of behind bars 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.
Under federal sentencing guidelines, the presentence report calls for 15 to 21 months behind bars. — ABC News, 8 July 2026 The fallen rapper has been behind bars at the New Jersey federal facility since October last year. — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 8 July 2026 Herrling is behind bars and serving her sentence at FMC Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas. — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026 Human rights advocates have also welcomed Jin’s release but cautioned that many members of Zion Church still remain behind bars. — Elmira Aliieva, NBC news, 5 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for behind bars

Word History

First Known Use

1861, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of behind bars was in 1861

Rhymes for behind bars

See All Rhymes for behind bars

Browse Nearby Words

behind
behind bars
behind closed doors
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Behind bars.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/behind%20bars. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on behind bars

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for behind bars

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of bibelot

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
child-detective
Spot the Misspelled Word July 2026 Those little red underlines can't help you now...
See All