: 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
The 20-year-old inmate would ask her to pass the phone around to different members of the family.
—
Gavin J. Quinton, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
Ohio hasn't put an inmate to death since July 18, 2018, the year before DeWine took office.
—CBS News, 18 June 2026
Stilwell is currently being held at the Paul Rein Detention Facility on three separate bonds of $7,500, according to inmate records reviewed by PEOPLE.
—Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 17 June 2026
Roa is currently being held in the San Bernardino County Central Jail with no bail, and Thomas is being held in the county's West Valley Jail, with no bail, according to inmate records.
—Noe Padilla, USA Today, 16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for inmate
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Gavin J. Quinton, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
Ohio hasn't put an inmate to death since July 18, 2018, the year before DeWine took office.
—CBS News, 18 June 2026
Stilwell is currently being held at the Paul Rein Detention Facility on three separate bonds of $7,500, according to inmate records reviewed by PEOPLE.
—Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 17 June 2026
Roa is currently being held in the San Bernardino County Central Jail with no bail, and Thomas is being held in the county's West Valley Jail, with no bail, according to inmate records.
—Noe Padilla, USA Today, 16 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 24 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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