: 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
Carswell is a federal prison for female inmates at all security levels who have medical and mental health needs.
—
Nelly Carreño, CBS News, 4 June 2026
Barred from filming inside, the documentarians turned to activist inmates who documented incidents on illicit cellphones in an attempt to bring attention to the inhumane conditions.
—James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 4 June 2026
According to guidelines issued by the Department of Justice, shackles may be used at federal facilities only to restrain violent inmates or prevent the escape of inmates during court appearances and transport.
—Eric Schlosser, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026
According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, FMC Fort Worth is an administrative security federal medical center with a detention center, and that all inmates receive medical, dental and mental health services.
—Maven Navarro
june 4, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for inmate
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Nelly Carreño, CBS News, 4 June 2026
Barred from filming inside, the documentarians turned to activist inmates who documented incidents on illicit cellphones in an attempt to bring attention to the inhumane conditions.
—James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 4 June 2026
According to guidelines issued by the Department of Justice, shackles may be used at federal facilities only to restrain violent inmates or prevent the escape of inmates during court appearances and transport.
—Eric Schlosser, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026
According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, FMC Fort Worth is an administrative security federal medical center with a detention center, and that all inmates receive medical, dental and mental health services.
—Maven Navarro
june 4, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 June 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 11 Jun. 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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