incarcerated

adjective

in·​car·​cer·​at·​ed in-ˈkär-sə-ˌrā-təd 

1

: confined in a jail or prison

Michigan law allows convicted felons to vote and run for office unless they are currently incarcerated, or if their offenses are fraud-related or constitute a breach of public trust.

—The Hartford (Connecticut) Courant

… whatever was needed for her programs combating domestic violence and aiding incarcerated women, ex-offenders, and their children.

—Peter Steinfels

Comparing the responses of incarcerated boys with nondelinquent adolescents, Scarpitti (1980) describes the three most probable identity resolutions …

—Judith Steven-Long et al.

2

medical, of a hernia : constricted but not strangulated

Within the incarcerated, herniated gastric cardia, there was an acute, benign gastric ulcer.

—Gregory J. Gallivan

Synonyms

• apprehended
• arrested
• captive
• captured
• caught
• confined
• imprisoned
• interned
• jailed

Examples of incarcerated in a Sentence

incarcerated residents of that state are still allowed to vote in elections

Recent Examples on the Web

Back in 2012, the two starred in The Paperboy, in which Efron’s wide-eyed character falls for an older woman (Kidman) who is in love with an incarcerated murderer. —Andrea Mandell, Peoplemag, 27 June 2024

Investigators later said the driver was unaware of the scam call that Brock had received with threats and demands for money, citing an incarcerated relative. —Mark Scolforo, Fortune, 20 Apr. 2024

The jail system’s most severe problems are at Rikers Island, where neglect, mismanagement and the pandemic have created a dangerous, chaotic environment for the incarcerated and correction officers. —New York Times, 8 Nov. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1766, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Medical Definition

incarcerated

adjective

in·​car·​cer·​at·​ed in-ˈkär-sə-ˌrāt-əd 

of a hernia

: constricted but not strangulated