plural prisons
1
: a building where people are kept as punishment for a crime or while they are waiting to go to court
a state/federal prison
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/sentenced to prison for robbery.
He was released from prison.
He's scheduled to get out of prison next month.
—often used before another nouna prison cell
a prison guard
an investigation into prison conditions
an overhaul of the prison system
prison reform
the prison population
an eight-year prison sentence/term
prison time [=the time someone spends in prison]
2
: a place or situation from which you cannot escape
Her marriage became a prison to her.
Cite this Entry
“Prison.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/prison. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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