SINCE 1828
parole
noun
pa·role
| \ pə-ˈrōl
\
\
Definition of parole
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: a promise made with or confirmed by a pledge of one's honor
especially
: the promise of a prisoner of war to fulfill stated conditions in consideration of his release
2
: a watchword given only to officers of the guard and of the day
3
: a conditional release of a prisoner serving an indeterminate or unexpired sentence
4a
: language viewed as a specific individual usage : performance
b
: a linguistic act — compare langue
parole
verb
paroled;
paroling
Definition of parole (Entry 2 of 2)
: to release (a prisoner) on parole
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Examples of parole in a Sentence
Noun
The prisoner will be eligible for parole after three years. She robbed a bank while out on parole. The prisoner was released on parole.
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Godejohn, who was convicted of first-degree murder and is now in prison for life without parole, killed Dee Dee to help Blanchard escape her life of abuse. — Chris Harris, PEOPLE.com, "Gypsy Rose Blanchard Reveals How Fiancé Proposed While Visiting Her in Prison," 30 Aug. 2019 Swasey faces the death penalty or life in prison without parole if convicted. — Nicole Santa Cruz, Los Angeles Times, "Woman charged with killing two people in a house fire in Exposition Park," 29 Aug. 2019 The mandatory sentence for first-degree murder is life in prison without parole. — Kieran Nicholson, The Denver Post, "Highlands Ranch woman convicted of first-degree murder in 2018 death of her newborn," 27 Aug. 2019 North Carolina's highest court is to hear from six death row inmates who say a repealed law on race and capital punishment should still let them be resentenced life without parole. — CBS News, "North Carolina death row prisoners to argue sentences tainted by race," 26 Aug. 2019 Timothy Madden pleaded guilty Saturday in exchange for a sentence of life without parole as part of a plea deal with prosecutors in Allen County, according to reports. — Fox News, "Kentucky man pleads guilty to murder of girl, 7, who disappeared during football game," 25 Aug. 2019 The state Supreme Court will hear arguments Monday and Tuesday in the cases of four death row inmates who briefly were resentenced to life without parole when legislators approved the Racial Justice Act in 2009. — Martha Waggoner, BostonGlobe.com, "Race and the death penalty: Arguments ongoing in North Carolina," 25 Aug. 2019 Now, in addition to a death penalty, Madden could face 20 to 50 years in prison, or life in prison, with or without parole, according to the Associated Press. — Sarah Ladd, The Courier-Journal, "Kentucky man charged with murdering, raping girl in 2015 pleads guilty," 25 Aug. 2019 Andre Johnson, who stabbed Burchfield, and Lawrence Woodard, convicted of ordering the killing, were sentenced to life without parole. — Bob Egelko, SFChronicle.com, "Death penalty upheld in 1985 slaying of San Quentin guard, despite recantation," 14 Aug. 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
Days after more than 1,000 community members held a vigil in Pearl River, that same board decided not to parole McCain, citing public outcry. — Fox News, "'So hideous' that 16-year-old New York girl's killer is being released, Pataki says in plea to Cuomo," 4 July 2019 The gunmen were apparently after a young man who was also shot and had been recently paroled for aggravated battery, Johnson said. — Gregory Pratt, chicagotribune.com, "Mayor Lori Lightfoot praises community anti-violence efforts in wake of shooting deaths of two Englewood activists," 30 July 2019 He was paroled less than two months later, on Sept. 15. — Robert Wilonsky, Dallas News, "Suspect in crash that killed former Dallas council member Carolyn Davis has long history of DWI convictions," 16 July 2019 Disheartened by the rejections, and by the news that none of the 20 other men in his network who were paroled around the same time had found housing either, Bonner started sleeping in the driver’s seat of his Toyota Camry. — Marisa Kendall, The Mercury News, "From behind bars to … the streets? Bay Area residents with records struggle to find housing," 21 June 2019 When Lacosse was paroled last year after a prison term for a fatal hit-and-run crash, that company welcomed him back on a probationary period. — Angie Jackson, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit job fair to offer second chance to the formerly incarcerated," 20 June 2019 Lewis was initially paroled in 1983 but was sent back to prison in 1993 for grand theft auto. — Laurel Weibezahn, sun-sentinel.com, "They killed a Fort Lauderdale police officer 45 years ago. Now, they’re seeking parole.," 19 June 2019 Under the measure, certain offenders must receive the medication before they are paroled from prison. — CBS News, "Alabama approves chemical castration for some sex offenders," 11 June 2019 He was transferred to a federal hospital in Springfield, Missouri, and paroled, thanks to intervention by President Franklin Roosevelt after a visit from high-level San Antonio politicians. — Paula Allen, ExpressNews.com, "Prominent businessman on San Antonio’s East Side was both lawbreaker and benefactor," 8 June 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'parole.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for parole
parole
noun
English Language Learners Definition of parole
(Entry 1 of 2)
: permission given to a prisoner to leave prison before the end of a sentence usually as a reward for behaving well
parole
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of parole (Entry 2 of 2)
: to release (a prisoner) on parole
See the full definition for parole in the English Language Learners Dictionary
parole
noun
pa·role
| \ pə-ˈrōl
\
\
Kids Definition of parole
: an early release of a prisoner
parole
noun
pa·role
| \ pə-ˈrōl
\
\
Medical Definition of parole
: a conditional release given to a psychiatric patient in a hospital before discharge enabling the patient to visit freely various designated areas on the hospital grounds or beyond its limits
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parole
noun
pa·role
| \ pə-ˈrōl
\
\
Legal Definition of parole
: a conditional release of a prisoner who has served part of a sentence and who remains under the control of and in the legal custody of a parole authority — compare probation
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Comments on parole
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