jail

1 of 2

noun

ˈjāl How to pronounce jail (audio)
Synonyms of jailnext
1
: a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody
specifically : such a place under the jurisdiction of a local government (such as a county) for the confinement of persons awaiting trial or those convicted of minor crimes compare prison
2
: confinement in a jail
sentenced to jail

jail

2 of 2

verb

jailed; jailing; jails

transitive verb

: to confine in or as if in a jail

Synonyms of jail

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Noun

Verb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of jail in a Sentence

Noun He was locked up in the county jail. He was arrested and sent to jail. He went to jail for his crimes. He just got out of jail a few weeks ago. He was kept in jail overnight. Verb threatened to jail the punks if they so much as jaywalked
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Almanza was charged with threatening to commit an act of mass violence on school property and is currently being held on a $1 million bond in the Faulkner County jail. — Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 4 Aug. 2026 His departure marks the loss of yet another prominent opposition voice willing to challenge the Kremlin from inside Russia, with most critics of President Vladimir Putin now either in jail or in exile. — Reuters, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
Verb
Critics say the 12-year rule of his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has marked a crackdown on civil society and jailing of political opponents. — Omkar Khandekar, NPR, 20 July 2026 Otero Alcántara has been the highest profile dissident jailed in Cuba since the July 11, 2021, protests over Cuba’s lack of freedoms and worsening economy. — Patrick Oppmann, CNN Money, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for jail

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English jaiole, from Anglo-French gaiole, jaiole, from Late Latin caveola, diminutive of Latin cavea cage — more at cage

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1600, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of jail was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing jail

Rhymes for jail

See All Rhymes for jail

Browse Nearby Words

jai alai
jail
jailbait
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Jail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jail. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

jail

noun
ˈjā(ə)l
: prison
jail verb

Legal Definition

jail

noun
ˈjāl How to pronounce jail (audio)
: a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody
specifically : such a place under the jurisdiction of a local government (as a county) for the confinement of persons awaiting trial or those convicted of minor crimes compare house of correction, house of detention, lockup, penitentiary, prison
jail transitive verb

More from Merriam-Webster on jail

Nglish: Translation of jail for Spanish Speakers

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