jailhouse

noun

jail·​house ˈjāl-ˌhau̇s 

: jail sense 1

Synonyms

• bastille
• big house [slang]
• bridewell
• brig
• calaboose
• can
• clink [slang]
• cooler
• coop
• guardroom
• hock
• hold
• hoosegow
• jail
• joint [slang]
• jug
• lockup
• nick [British slang]
• pen
• penitentiary
• pokey [slang]
• prison
• quod [British slang]
• slam
• slammer
• stir [slang]
• stockade
• tolbooth [Scottish]

Examples of jailhouse in a Sentence

received a tip from an informant inside the county jailhouse

Recent Examples on the Web

Diddy was allowed to shed his jailhouse attire for the trial and chose a blue sweater over a white button-down shirt for the first day of jury selection. —Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 5 May 2025

Malcolm's jailhouse conversion to the Nation of Islam was conjured up at Rahway State Penitentiary in New Jersey. —CBS News, 2 May 2025

This week's episode of 20/20 focuses on the case and includes Moore, who was convicted of Shakespeare’s murder, exclusively speaking in a jailhouse call with ABC News’ Matt Gutman. —Nicole Acosta, People.com, 18 Apr. 2025

The American Civil Liberties Union and a group of community activists have dropped their 2018 lawsuit accusing the Orange County Sheriff’s Department of continuing to illegally use jailhouse informants. —Tony Saavedra, Oc Register, 25 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1812, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing jailhouse

• jailhouse lawyer

Rhymes for jailhouse

• alehouse
• almshouse
• backhouse
• baghouse
• bakehouse
• bathhouse
• bauhaus
• blockhouse
• boathouse
• brewhouse
• bunkhouse
• clubhouse

Legal Definition

jailhouse

noun

jail·​house ˈjāl-ˌhau̇s 

: jail