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
Synonyms
Noun
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
Benjamin Svetkey, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Oct. 2024
The charges to which Kamon pleaded guilty carry a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison, along with fines and three years of supervised release.
—Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2024
Published in 2022, the book centers on Kenna Rowan, who hopes to reunite with her 4-year-old daughter after serving five years in prison.
—Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY, 9 Oct. 2024
The report, which was presented to Attorney General Gentner Drummond, alleged that prosecutors had evidence that Sneed was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in prison, which was not disclosed to the defense.
—Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prison 
Noun
Manson’s Granddaughter Gets Her Day in Court Charles Manson died in prison in 2017, but his offspring continue to stir up helter-skelter in California’s courts.
—Benjamin Svetkey, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Oct. 2024
The charges to which Kamon pleaded guilty carry a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison, along with fines and three years of supervised release.
—Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2024
Published in 2022, the book centers on Kenna Rowan, who hopes to reunite with her 4-year-old daughter after serving five years in prison.
—Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY, 9 Oct. 2024
The report, which was presented to Attorney General Gentner Drummond, alleged that prosecutors had evidence that Sneed was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in prison, which was not disclosed to the defense.
—Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prison
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prison.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near prison
Cite this Entry
“Prison.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prison. Accessed 21 Oct. 2024.
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