inmate

noun

in·​mate ˈin-ˌmāt 

: 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

About half a dozen inmates were interviewed during the investigation. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 24 Sep. 2026

Ramey became the sixth inmate executed in Texas this year, with the state set to carry out three more lethal injections over the next two months. — James Cirrone, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026

Federal judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys have all chimed in, saying the transfer, which is underway, will waste taxpayer dollars, create massive backlogs and complications in court proceedings, and endanger inmates’ constitutional rights. — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 24 Sep. 2026

Halfway houses, also known as residential reentry centers, offer a supervised environment for inmates nearing release and services including career counseling and financial management assistance, according to the bureau. — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1609, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for inmate

• abate
• airfreight
• await
• baseplate
• berate
• birthdate
• birthrate
• bookplate
• borate
• breastplate
• bromate
• casemate

Kids 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)