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

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.
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
Some former members of the fraternity were sentenced to several days in jail for providing alcohol at an initiation event to a minor, and Washington State University removed official recognition of the fraternity until May 2026. — Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 3 May 2025 He was convicted and died in jail while awaiting sentencing in 2023. — Eric Shawn, FOXNews.com, 3 May 2025
Verb
He was arraigned May 2 and jailed on a $75,000 bond. — Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, 6 May 2025 The unusual dispute will next week go before a judge, who will hear arguments on whether Hall should remain jailed. — Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2025 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

1604, 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 12 May. 2025.

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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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