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
Brian Bennett, TIME, 15 Apr. 2024
Cohen pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations in relation to the Daniels money and served more than a year in prison on a three-year sentence.
—Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2024
Now Gutierrez-Reed has been sentenced to 18 months in prison.
—Mandalit Del Barco, NPR, 15 Apr. 2024
Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was sentenced to 18 months in prison after being convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the accidental shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2024
Prior to the delivery of her sentence, Gutierrez-Reed, 26, asked to be issued probation rather than serve time in prison.
—Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Apr. 2024
Idaho doctors who prescribe those treatments to transgender youth can face up to 10 years in prison.
—Ann Marimow, Washington Post, 15 Apr. 2024
The request is a much higher sentence than what Indiana law typically calls for in murder cases − which ranges from 45 to 65 years in prison if convicted.
—Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 15 Apr. 2024
After the appeals court ruled, the Supreme Court decided a different First Amendment case about a man sentenced to more than four years in prison in Colorado for sending threatening Facebook messages.
—USA TODAY, 15 Apr. 2024
Noun
Each count carries a maximum sentence of 4 years in prison, or a total of 136 years.
—Brian Bennett, TIME, 15 Apr. 2024
Cohen pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations in relation to the Daniels money and served more than a year in prison on a three-year sentence.
—Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2024
Now Gutierrez-Reed has been sentenced to 18 months in prison.
—Mandalit Del Barco, NPR, 15 Apr. 2024
Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was sentenced to 18 months in prison after being convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the accidental shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2024
Prior to the delivery of her sentence, Gutierrez-Reed, 26, asked to be issued probation rather than serve time in prison.
—Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Apr. 2024
Idaho doctors who prescribe those treatments to transgender youth can face up to 10 years in prison.
—Ann Marimow, Washington Post, 15 Apr. 2024
The request is a much higher sentence than what Indiana law typically calls for in murder cases − which ranges from 45 to 65 years in prison if convicted.
—Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 15 Apr. 2024
After the appeals court ruled, the Supreme Court decided a different First Amendment case about a man sentenced to more than four years in prison in Colorado for sending threatening Facebook messages.
—USA TODAY, 15 Apr. 2024
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 19 Apr. 2024.
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