: any of a group occupying a single place of residence
especially
: a person confined (as in a prison or hospital)
Examples of inmate in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The women’s orchestra, separated from their fellow inmates in a special block, was required by their Nazi overseers to play jaunty marches every morning and evening so that other female prisoners kept in step as they were sent to work outside the camp.
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Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2025
The firing squad execution method Two states have executed just five inmates by firing squad since 1977, although two of those executions happened this year.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2025
In one instance, a colleague entered Aber’s office to find an inmate crouched under his desk, according to an affidavit filed against Aber in the criminal case.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 16 Sep. 2025
Rowland was being held Tuesday at the Faulkner County jail, according to an online inmate roster.
—Rafael Escalera Montoto, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inmate
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Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2025
The firing squad execution method Two states have executed just five inmates by firing squad since 1977, although two of those executions happened this year.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2025
In one instance, a colleague entered Aber’s office to find an inmate crouched under his desk, according to an affidavit filed against Aber in the criminal case.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 16 Sep. 2025
Rowland was being held Tuesday at the Faulkner County jail, according to an online inmate roster.
—Rafael Escalera Montoto, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inmate
Cite this Entry
“Inmate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inmate. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
inmate
noun
in·mate
ˈin-ˌmāt 
: a member of a group living in a single residence
especially
: a person kept in an institution (as a hospital or prison)
Medical Definition
inmate
noun
in·mate
ˈin-ˌmāt
: one of a group occupying a single place of residence
especially
: a person confined (as in a psychiatric hospital) especially for a long time
Legal Definition
inmate
noun
in·mate
ˈin-ˌmāt
: a person confined in an institution (as a prison or hospital)
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