variants
also British gaol
plural jails
: a place where people are kept when they have been arrested and are being punished for a crime
He was locked up in the county jail.
He was arrested and sent/sentenced to jail.
He went to jail for his crimes.
He just got out of jail a few weeks ago.
He was kept in jail overnight.
variants
also British gaol
jails; jailed; jailing
: to put (a person) in jail
—usually used as (be) jailed
He was jailed for assaulting a police officer.
Cite this Entry
“Jail.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/jail. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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