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
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
Adam Reiss, NBC news, 31 Oct. 2025
Giancarlo Morelli, 39, will serve 48 months in a New Jersey federal prison followed by three years of supervised release, according to a copy of the criminal judgment obtained by PEOPLE.
—Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025
Pearce, 43, was sentenced to 146 years to life in state prison Wednesday, a representative for the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office confirmed to Entertainment Weekly.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
The court sentenced him to three years in prison, the minimum for rape in Sweden, and ordered him to pay 240,000 Swedish krona, about $25,600, in damages.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prison
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Noun
He was sentenced this month to 50 months in prison on two counts of interstate prostitution.
—Adam Reiss, NBC news, 31 Oct. 2025
Giancarlo Morelli, 39, will serve 48 months in a New Jersey federal prison followed by three years of supervised release, according to a copy of the criminal judgment obtained by PEOPLE.
—Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025
Pearce, 43, was sentenced to 146 years to life in state prison Wednesday, a representative for the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office confirmed to Entertainment Weekly.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
The court sentenced him to three years in prison, the minimum for rape in Sweden, and ordered him to pay 240,000 Swedish krona, about $25,600, in damages.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prison
Cite this Entry
“Prison.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prison. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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