jailhouse

noun

jail·​house ˈjāl-ˌhau̇s How to pronounce jailhouse (audio)

Examples of jailhouse in a Sentence

received a tip from an informant inside the county jailhouse
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Sanders had uncovered in 2014 that Rackauckas’ prosecutors and sheriff’s deputies for years had illegally used jailhouse informants to coax confessions from defendants who had attorneys, in violation of their right to counsel. Tony Saavedra, Oc Register, 30 Sep. 2025 Court records weren't immediately available in that case, but Luchin admitted to attempting to rob a bank in jailhouse interviews at the time. Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 17 Sep. 2025 But his conviction rested heavily on the word of a jailhouse informant — a man who later admitted to lying. Elizabeth Rosner, PEOPLE, 13 Sep. 2025 Young Thug has been at the center of controversy over the past several days, as recordings of jailhouse calls made while he was incarcerated during the YSL trial have leaked online. Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for jailhouse

Word History

First Known Use

1812, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of jailhouse was in 1812

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Jailhouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jailhouse. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

Legal Definition

jailhouse

noun
jail·​house ˈjāl-ˌhau̇s How to pronounce jailhouse (audio)
: jail

More from Merriam-Webster on jailhouse

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!