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
Synonyms
Noun
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
Audrey Conklin, Fox News, 22 May 2024
He was released in November 2023, then promptly arrested again after releasing this video detailing his horrific experiences in prison.
—Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 22 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for prison 
Noun
Michael Bruyette, 59, spent 30 years in prison for beating a man to death in June 1985 before he was paroled with special conditions in 2016 for demonstrating good behavior, according to state records.
—Audrey Conklin, Fox News, 22 May 2024
He was released in November 2023, then promptly arrested again after releasing this video detailing his horrific experiences in prison.
—Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 22 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for prison
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prison.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near prison
Cite this Entry
“Prison.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prison. Accessed 3 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share