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
Brian Bennett, TIME, 21 Mar. 2025
With inmate suicide rates at an all-time high, U.S. District Senior Judge Kimberly Mueller said her aim is to force changes in California’s prison mental health system, which a federal judge in 1995 deemed to be so poor as to constitute cruel and unusual punishment.
—Paige St. John, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2025
While there, Mel’s mom, June, warns her daughter that Keith has a Following-like network of minions both inside and outside the prison who are willing to do his bidding.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 20 Mar. 2025
The Tate brothers were held in a Romanian prison until March 2023, when they were released on house arrest.
—Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prison
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Noun
Three days later, his immigration attorney was able to reach an ICE official who confirmed that his client was in a prison in another country.
—Brian Bennett, TIME, 21 Mar. 2025
With inmate suicide rates at an all-time high, U.S. District Senior Judge Kimberly Mueller said her aim is to force changes in California’s prison mental health system, which a federal judge in 1995 deemed to be so poor as to constitute cruel and unusual punishment.
—Paige St. John, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2025
While there, Mel’s mom, June, warns her daughter that Keith has a Following-like network of minions both inside and outside the prison who are willing to do his bidding.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 20 Mar. 2025
The Tate brothers were held in a Romanian prison until March 2023, when they were released on house arrest.
—Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 20 Mar. 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 24 Mar. 2025.
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