jail 1 of 2

Definition of jailnext

jail

2 of 2

verb

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of jail
Noun
In 2006, ⁠a Vietnamese court convicted him of committing obscene ⁠acts with two girls ages 10 and 11 and sentenced ‌him to four ​years in jail. Reuters, NBC news, 2 July 2026 Los Angeles County prosecutors made a deal with Jackson earlier this year that would send him to jail for 90 days and require him to serve two years of probation. James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
Verb
Considering her Season 1 character Mia, aka Lady Vengeance, a serial killer by night and sommelier by day, was killed while jailed, is anyone’s guess. Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 29 June 2026 After his arrest last May, Hoopes was placed in a mental health hold before being jailed, court records show. Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for jail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jail
Noun
  • The pair, who were detained in March, had already spent four months in prison prior to the punishment, which ultimately reduced their sentence from 25 lashes to 21, the AP said.
    Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
  • Taylor, 30, now faces a potential sentence of life in prison.
    Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • He was imprisoned for three years in 2001 for inciting subversion of state power.
    ABC News, ABC News, 29 June 2026
  • Xiaobo worked relentlessly as an advocate for democracy and reform in China, for which he was arrested and imprisoned multiple times; he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010.
    USA Today, USA Today, 29 June 2026
Noun
  • Two years ago, a judge freed Anthony Bailey after 27 years in the federal penitentiary, giving him a second chance at life.
    Carrie Johnson, NPR, 23 June 2026
  • After a federal jury voted to convict him in early 2024, Hernández was sent to a notorious high-security penitentiary in West Virginia to serve his time.
    Keri Blakinger, ProPublica, 11 June 2026
Verb
  • The goal is to eventually close the island to incarcerated individuals in a decarceration plan, replacing it with four other jails in Manhattan, The Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn.
    Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 30 June 2026
  • Caleb Crawford was incarcerated in 2016 after indecently touching his cousin, a 12-year-old girl at the time.
    Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Jail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jail. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.

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