prison

1 of 2

noun

pris·​on ˈpri-zᵊn 

1

: a state of confinement or captivity

2

: a place of confinement especially for lawbreakers

specifically : an institution (such as one under state jurisdiction) for confinement of persons convicted of serious crimes compare jail

prison

2 of 2

verb

prisoned; prisoning; prisons

transitive verb

: imprison, confine

Synonyms

Noun

• jail
• penitentiary

Examples of prison in a Sentence

Noun

The state plans to build two more prisons.

He was in prison at the time.

If caught, they're all going to prison.

She was sent to prison for robbery.

He was released from prison.

He's scheduled to get out of prison next month.

Her marriage became a prison to her.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Administration officials flaunted court orders by deporting immigrants to a Salvadoran prison. —Nell Salzman, Chicago Tribune, 6 July 2025

An ex-con who went to prison for shooting a teenager to death during a birthday party went on to go into business as a gun trafficker in Queens after his release on parole, federal prosecutors say. —John Annese, New York Daily News, 6 July 2025

If convicted, the charges carry sentences that could send her to prison for years. —Miami Herald, 6 July 2025

This sets a precedent for other undocumented people currently in prison to be deported to third-party nations. —Sophie Clark, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin prehension-, prehensio act of seizing, from prehendere to seize — more at get

First Known Use

Noun

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing prison

• left to rot in jail/prison
• maximum security prison
• minimum security prison
• open prison
• prison camp
• prison industrial complex
• prison time

Rhymes for prison

• kisan
• mizzen
• nisan
• risen
• arisen
• imprison

Kids Definition

prison

noun

pris·​on

ˈpriz-ᵊn

1

: a state of confinement or captivity

2

: a place where criminals or prisoners are locked up

Legal Definition

prison

noun

pris·​on

: an institution usually under state control for confinement of persons serving sentences for serious crimes compare house of correction, house of detention, jail, lockup, penitentiary