as in jails
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody
the firm conviction that juvenile offenders should never be held in adult lockups
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Recent Examples of lockups
Kamlager-Dove’s bill, called the Pregnant Women in Custody Act, would require the federal government to collect data on pregnancies — how many, the treatment, the outcomes — not only in local jails, but also in federal and state lockups, including immigration detention facilities.
—
Jon Schuppe, NBC news, 7 May 2026
Salinas Valley has become one of the most violent lockups in the state.
—Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
Owners reported sudden deceleration, downshifting, and temporary rear wheel lockups in 2015-2017 models.
—Jamie L. Lareau, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
These investments are typically illiquid and long-term, with multi-year lockups and limited redemption options.
—Fred Hubler, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Jon Schuppe, NBC news, 7 May 2026
Salinas Valley has become one of the most violent lockups in the state.
—Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
Owners reported sudden deceleration, downshifting, and temporary rear wheel lockups in 2015-2017 models.
—Jamie L. Lareau, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
These investments are typically illiquid and long-term, with multi-year lockups and limited redemption options.
—Fred Hubler, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lockups
Noun
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The field office constantly coördinated with local social-services agencies, hospitals, funeral homes, jails.—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
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It was not considered controversial when the Obama administration placed immigration enforcement officials in county jails to coordinate the removal of individuals convicted of serious crimes, so that same level of cooperation should not be controversial today.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
Noun
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Behind bars in state penitentiaries in Gatesville and Marlin, Mejia felt forgotten.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American Statesman,
17 Mar. 2026
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The wave of prison violence is happening despite the deployment of military and police forces in several penitentiaries.—
Michael Rios,
CNN Money,
8 Dec. 2025
Noun
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In recent years, California has closed five prisons, with another potentially coming.—
Sarah Anderson,
Oc Register,
7 May 2026
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Over time, federal prosecutors say, several of these groups operating in the prisons evolved into violent criminal organizations such as Los Tiburones and Ñetas, with memberships in the thousands.—
Raquel Rutledge,
ProPublica,
5 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lockups.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lockups. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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