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
Richard BeharWithin 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
Clare Morgana GillisExamples of cellmate in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In mid-October, his Cuban cellmate, Roberto Mosquera del Peral, began a monthlong hunger strike.
—Sarah Stillman, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
Two years ago, Eric Van Tine suffered a traumatic brain injury after a fight with a cellmate and died several months later.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Nov. 2025
The family learned of his death through a cellmate.
—Muhammad Darwish, CNN Money, 17 Nov. 2025
The man's cellmate, according to court documents, yelled to a nearby officer.
—Kristine Phillips, IndyStar, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cellmate
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.
Sarah Stillman, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
Two years ago, Eric Van Tine suffered a traumatic brain injury after a fight with a cellmate and died several months later.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Nov. 2025
The family learned of his death through a cellmate.
—Muhammad Darwish, CNN Money, 17 Nov. 2025
The man's cellmate, according to court documents, yelled to a nearby officer.
—Kristine Phillips, IndyStar, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cellmate
Cite this Entry
“Cellmate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cellmate. Accessed 30 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share