solitary confinement
noun
: the state of being kept alone in a prison cell away from other prisoners
He spent three months in solitary confinement.
Examples of solitary confinement in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
He's gone from solitary confinement to Nashville's biggest rapper, according to The New York Times.
—
Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register, 31 Mar. 2026
He was soon arrested and has been in custody since December 2020, mostly in solitary confinement.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Mar. 2026
After her arrest in July, she was kept in solitary confinement for months.
—Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2026
For five years, she was placed in solitary confinement at the Indiana Women’s Prison.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 21 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for solitary confinement
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.
Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register, 31 Mar. 2026
He was soon arrested and has been in custody since December 2020, mostly in solitary confinement.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Mar. 2026
After her arrest in July, she was kept in solitary confinement for months.
—Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2026
For five years, she was placed in solitary confinement at the Indiana Women’s Prison.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 21 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for solitary confinement
Cite this Entry
“Solitary confinement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/solitary%20confinement. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
