: 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
Overnight, Sofia’s posh and privileged life turns upside down: After becoming a tabloid sensation as a serial killer, she’s sent to Arkham, where she’s brutalized both by her fellow inmates and the physicians tasked with her care, despite her constant, panicked protestations of her innocence.
—
Adam B. Vary, Variety, 14 Oct. 2024
Surviving inmates or grieving families have often fought for years to reach settlements.
—Jonathan Mattise, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2024
In 2021, California made parole consideration available to some inmates over the age of 50 who have served at least 20 years of their sentence.
—Teri Figueroa, The Mercury News, 11 Oct. 2024
Where to watch The Batman: Max 10 of 10
Connor Storrie, Joker: Folie à Deux (2024)
After Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) confesses to his crimes and is incarcerated at Arkham State Hospital, Connor Storrie’s young inmate offers to tell Arthur a joke.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 11 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for inmate 
Adam B. Vary, Variety, 14 Oct. 2024
Surviving inmates or grieving families have often fought for years to reach settlements.
—Jonathan Mattise, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2024
In 2021, California made parole consideration available to some inmates over the age of 50 who have served at least 20 years of their sentence.
—Teri Figueroa, The Mercury News, 11 Oct. 2024
Where to watch The Batman: Max 10 of 10
Connor Storrie, Joker: Folie à Deux (2024)
After Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) confesses to his crimes and is incarcerated at Arkham State Hospital, Connor Storrie’s young inmate offers to tell Arthur a joke.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 11 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for inmate
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'inmate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near inmate
Cite this Entry
“Inmate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inmate. Accessed 22 Oct. 2024.
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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