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

An inmate who walked away from an El Dorado County conservation camp earlier this year was arrested in Southern California for burglary, authorities said on Wednesday. — Brandon Downs, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026

Guards fired less-lethal rounds to stop an attack Tuesday at a prison in Sacramento County in which one inmate was killed and another is suspected of attacking him. — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 19 Aug. 2026

Two inmates have died at the facility since detainees were transferred there from the downtown jail at 1300 Cherry Street. — Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 2026

Westville Correctional Facility inmates and staff have joined Porter County Emergency Management Agency and NIPSCO, among others, in the cleanup efforts. — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 18 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)