Synonyms of jail

jail 1 of 2

noun

ˈjāl 

as in prison

a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody

sentenced to three years in jail for his crime

Synonyms & Similar Words

• prison
• penitentiary
• brig
• jailhouse
• slammer
• lockup
• stockade
• hoosegow
• bridewell
• calaboose
• pen
• coop
• bastille
• guardroom
• cage
• big house
• cooler
• clink
• hock
• pokey
• jug
• tolbooth
• dungeon
• cell
• stir
• joint
• tank
• can
• quod
• slam
• nick
• hold
• ward
• bull pen
• guardhouse
• hole
• gulag
• prison camp
• labor camp
• reformatory
• concentration camp
• stalag
• block
• work camp
• keep
• glasshouse
• oubliette
• reform school
• hulk(s)
• training school

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• outside

jail

2 of 2

verb

as in to imprison

to put in or as if in prison

threatened to jail the punks if they so much as jaywalked

Synonyms & Similar Words

• imprison
• incarcerate
• intern
• arrest
• confine
• detain
• commit
• lock (up)
• restrain
• catch
• immure
• shut
• gate
• jug
• capture
• limit
• apprehend
• bar
• restrict
• seize
• constrain
• keep
• impound
• bind
• hold
• bust
• impress
• pinch
• nab
• handcuff
• shackle
• pick up
• shanghai
• fetter
• manacle
• enchain
• trammel

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• free
• release
• liberate
• discharge
• emancipate
• manumit
• unchain
• enfranchise
• unbind
• unfetter
• uncage

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of jail

Noun

McFadden plans to relieve overcrowding at the county’s main jail by transferring about 250 adult inmates to Jail North as early as September 1. — Laura Horne, Charlotte Observer, 6 Aug. 2026

Four letters have arrived at Dart's office in over the last month, telling him to hand over four inmates at the jail. — Chris Tye, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026

Verb

Jason Rezaian, the Washington Post reporter who was convicted on phony espionage charges and jailed for 544 days, might beg to differ with Blumenthal’s analysis. — James Kirchick, The Atlantic, 29 July 2026

The January crackdown, sparked by economic anger and calls to oust Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, left thousands dead and tens of thousands jailed in the Islamic Republic’s bloodiest repression. — Los Angeles Times, 28 July 2026