jail

[jeyl] / dʒeɪl /

NOUN

place for incarceration

Synonyms

STRONGEST

cell lockup penitentiary prison

STRONG

bastille brig bullpen can clink cooler dungeon inside jailhouse joint pen pound rack reformatory slammer solitary stir stockade

WEAK

black hole detention camp house of correction penal institution up the river

VERB

incarcerate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

confine detain hold imprison lock up sentence take away

STRONG

bastille book cage can constrain immure impound prison railroad

WEAK

put away put behind bars put on ice send up throw away the keys throw in dungeon throw the book at

Antonyms

STRONGEST

free let go liberate release

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Tina Peters deserved to go to jail but not for nine years, a panel of judges decreed, ordering her resentencing.

From Los Angeles Times • May 24, 2026

He often said his work in a jail as young man gave him a different point of view from the salons of Washington, D.C., about rising from the streets.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026

Sarah Ferguson's close friend and business partner, Manuel Fernandez, used his Palace links to threaten a worker with jail, according to a recording obtained by the BBC.

From BBC • May 20, 2026

"For us, getting the convict to serve his jail terms is extremely important in view of the seriousness with which we are tackling corrupt practices," he said.

From BBC • May 20, 2026

“The website hasn’t been updated recently. She’s not in jail anymore.”

From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko

jail

Example Sentences

Related Words