: 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
He wasn't listed on the Pulaski County jail's online inmate roster as of Wednesday evening.
—
Arkansas Online, 6 Nov. 2025
Fox News Digital can confirm he was served a cake made by his fellow inmates and was also given his favorite snack – applesauce.
—Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 5 Nov. 2025
Instances in which officers used force against inmates climbed to 514.
—Kristine Phillips, IndyStar, 5 Nov. 2025
England was named by federal prosecutors as an inmate allegedly targeted for murder by the Aryan Brotherhood in 2023.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inmate
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Arkansas Online, 6 Nov. 2025
Fox News Digital can confirm he was served a cake made by his fellow inmates and was also given his favorite snack – applesauce.
—Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 5 Nov. 2025
Instances in which officers used force against inmates climbed to 514.
—Kristine Phillips, IndyStar, 5 Nov. 2025
England was named by federal prosecutors as an inmate allegedly targeted for murder by the Aryan Brotherhood in 2023.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inmate
Cite this Entry
“Inmate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inmate. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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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