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
Erin Jensen, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025
That same day, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole for fatally poisoning Angela.
—Doc Louallen, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2025
Advertisement Advertisement The episode features conversations with Syed in prison and after his release, plus lawyers involved with the case and Syed’s family members.
—Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 19 Sep. 2025
In Reminders of Him, Kenna (Maika Monroe), after being released from prison, attempts to reconnect with her young daughter but faces resistance from everyone except a bar owner (Tyriq Withers) with ties to the child.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prison
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Noun
But in the years that followed, Syed's judicial game of table tennis continued until he was finally freed from prison in 2022.
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025
That same day, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole for fatally poisoning Angela.
—Doc Louallen, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2025
Advertisement Advertisement The episode features conversations with Syed in prison and after his release, plus lawyers involved with the case and Syed’s family members.
—Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 19 Sep. 2025
In Reminders of Him, Kenna (Maika Monroe), after being released from prison, attempts to reconnect with her young daughter but faces resistance from everyone except a bar owner (Tyriq Withers) with ties to the child.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 18 Sep. 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 20 Sep. 2025.
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