prison

Meaning

Noun

1. (countable, uncountable) A place or institution where people are held against their will, in the US especially for long-term confinement, as of those convicted of serious crimes or otherwise considered undesirable by the government.
2. (uncountable) Confinement in prison.
3. (colloquial, countable, figuratively, uncountable) Any restrictive environment, such as a harsh academy or home.

Verb

To imprison.

Synonyms

jail

gaol

penitentiary

cell

dungeon

jailhouse

slammer

bagnio

bastille

cage

limbo

lockup

pogy

prison house

bastile

pogie

imprisonment

pogey

prisonhouse

stockade

coop

clink

goal

stir

lock-up

calaboose

place of confinement

enclosure

poky

lock up

detention house

nick

cooler

quod

reformatory

pokey

brig

casemate

panopticon

penal

penal colony

penal institution

captivity

peter

pit

pound

💷

prison cell

can

start

gaol

Translations

prison

Gefängnis

cárcel

prigione

carcere

prisión

gevangenis

prisão

φυλακή

carcer

cadeia

cárcere

Zuchthaus

Kerker

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈpɹɪzən/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: prisoun

In summary

From Middle English prisoun, prison, a borrowing from Old French prison, from Latin prehensiōnem, accusative singular of prehensiō, from the verb prehendō. Doublet of prehension.

Sentences

Knoller is currently serving her sentence at Valley State Prison for Women in Chowchilla .