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

After a fight last month with another inmate at the cushy Fort Dix FCI, Diddy has had his release date pushed back now to February 20, 2028. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2026

Participating in a Residential Drug Abuse Treatment Program (RDAP) can reduce an inmate’s sentence by up to a year, according to the Bureau of Prisons. — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 2026

Shirley is being held in the Jackson County Detention Center on a $500,000 cash-only bond, according to the jail’s inmate listing. — Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 5 Aug. 2026

Explicit messages as well as pictures and videos were reportedly found on the inmate's phone and on Pensak's phone after they were seized by investigators. — Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 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)