1
: a state of confinement or captivity
2
: a place of confinement especially for lawbreakers
specifically
: an institution (such as one under state jurisdiction) for confinement of persons convicted of serious crimes compare jail
Examples of prison in a Sentence
Noun
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 to prison for robbery.
He was released from prison.
He's scheduled to get out of prison next month.
Her marriage became a prison to her.
Recent Examples on the Web
Erin Moriarty, Liza Finley, CBS News, 4 May 2025
He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 40 years.
—Nicole Acosta, People.com, 3 May 2025
She was sentenced to 18 months in prison for her costly scheme.
—Audrey Conklin, FOXNews.com, 3 May 2025
The maximum punishment for the state charges is life in prison.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 3 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for prison
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.
Noun
After 24 years in prison, Anderson was released on parole in 2023.
—Erin Moriarty, Liza Finley, CBS News, 4 May 2025
He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 40 years.
—Nicole Acosta, People.com, 3 May 2025
She was sentenced to 18 months in prison for her costly scheme.
—Audrey Conklin, FOXNews.com, 3 May 2025
The maximum punishment for the state charges is life in prison.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 3 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for prison
Cite this Entry
“Prison.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prison. Accessed 13 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share