: any of a group occupying a single place of residence
especially
: a person confined (as in a prison or hospital)
Examples of inmate in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
How did federal agents link an Alabama inmate to the case?
—
Monroe Trombly, Louisville Courier Journal, 28 Feb. 2026
As of Saturday afternoon, Allman’s name could not be found in the New Hampshire Department of Corrections’ inmate records.
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 28 Feb. 2026
The judges cited Leavenworth officials’ sworn testimony as compelling evidence that CoreCivic should not be allowed to reopen without guarantees that conditions would be safer for inmates and employees than in the past.
—Matthew Kelly
february 27, Kansas City Star, 27 Feb. 2026
Under California's elder parole law, inmates must be over the age of 50 and have served at least 20 consecutive years in prison to be eligible for release.
—Richard Ramos, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inmate
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Monroe Trombly, Louisville Courier Journal, 28 Feb. 2026
As of Saturday afternoon, Allman’s name could not be found in the New Hampshire Department of Corrections’ inmate records.
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 28 Feb. 2026
The judges cited Leavenworth officials’ sworn testimony as compelling evidence that CoreCivic should not be allowed to reopen without guarantees that conditions would be safer for inmates and employees than in the past.
—Matthew Kelly
february 27, Kansas City Star, 27 Feb. 2026
Under California's elder parole law, inmates must be over the age of 50 and have served at least 20 consecutive years in prison to be eligible for release.
—Richard Ramos, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inmate
Cite this Entry
“Inmate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inmate. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
inmate
noun
in·mate
ˈin-ˌmāt 
: a member of a group living in a single residence
especially
: a person kept in an institution (as a hospital or prison)
Medical Definition
inmate
noun
in·mate
ˈin-ˌmāt
: one of a group occupying a single place of residence
especially
: a person confined (as in a psychiatric hospital) especially for a long time
Legal Definition
inmate
noun
in·mate
ˈin-ˌmāt
: a person confined in an institution (as a prison or hospital)
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