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 of prison

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

Eighteen of the 23 counts each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. —Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 4 Dec. 2025

Matthias Schoenaerts has been sentenced to six months in prison, a 4,000 euro fine, and a one-year driving ban in Belgium. —Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Dec. 2025

In October 2018, Knight was sentenced to 28 years in prison after pleading no contest to voluntary manslaughter for a January 2015 hit-and-run incident that killed businessman Carter. —Makena Gera, PEOPLE, 4 Dec. 2025

Following her release from prison in 2018, Miller announced she had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. —Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 4 Dec. 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

13th 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