cellmate

noun

cell·​mate ˈsel-ˌmāt How to pronounce cellmate (audio)
variants or less commonly cell mate
plural cellmates also cell mates
: a person who shares a prison cell with another prisoner
When his cellmates learned that his bond had been set at $1 million (and bail at $500,000), they broke into laughter and shook their heads in disbelief.Richard Behar
Within a week, guards came by at night and told me to get ready. … I said goodbye to my cellmates and gathered my things …Clare Morgana Gillis

Examples of cellmate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Later that day, he was found unresponsive in his cell by his cellmate and jail staff immediately began lifesaving measures, according to the statement. Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Feb. 2025 Their cellmates included two prisoners from Nigeria, one from Liberia, one from Thailand, three from Myanmar, and one from Pakistan. Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024 Nigh’s two cellmates are alleged to have helped him into a ceiling chase, which is a space above a ceiling that often houses ducts, and covering for him. Phil Helsel, NBC News, 29 Jan. 2025 Deputies said one cellmate told authorities that Inaru brought up the plot every day. Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cellmate

Word History

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cellmate was in 1839

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Cite this Entry

“Cellmate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cellmate. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

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