jail
noun
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Definition of jail
(Entry 1 of 2)
jail
verbDefinition of jail (Entry 2 of 2)
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Synonyms & Antonyms for jail
Synonyms: Noun
bastille, big house [slang], bridewell, brig, calaboose, can, clink [slang], cooler, coop, guardroom, hock, hold, hoosegow, jailhouse, joint [slang], jug, lockup, nick [British slang], pen, penitentiary, pokey [slang], prison, quod [British slang], slam, slammer, stir [slang], stockade, tolbooth [Scottish]
Synonyms: Verb
commit, confine, immure, imprison, incarcerate, intern, jug, lock (up)
Antonyms: Verb
discharge, free, liberate, release
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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: Noun
Anyone found guilty of harassing, branding or killing one faces a fine of up to $2,000 and a year in jail. — BostonGlobe.com, "Tourist may have brought measles to Southern California," 25 Aug. 2019 Epstein, 66, died by suicide in jail, authorities confirmed on Aug. 16. — Maria Pasquini, PEOPLE.com, "Prince Andrew Denies Witnessing or Suspecting Criminal Abuse from Former Friend Jeffrey Epstein," 24 Aug. 2019 Huseny also said Hennessy’s current proposal would keep more people in jail. — Bob Egelko, SFChronicle.com, "Judge losing patience with SF on bail fight," 23 Aug. 2019 His patrimony would not protect him—even a former army chief who stood for the presidency last year wound up in jail. — The Economist, "Many Egyptians miss their deposed president, Hosni Mubarak," 22 Aug. 2019 Pavelich is being held in jail at the Lake County Sheriff's Office. — Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAY, "Member of 'Miracle on Ice' team Mark Pavelich faces charges after allegedly attacking neighbor with pole," 22 Aug. 2019 Kamala Harris During her term as California’s attorney general, her office sentenced two men to 300 days in jail for selling 800 bootleg CDs to undercover agents. — Steve Knopper, Billboard, "How Bernie, Biden, Kamala and Warren Stack Up on Industry Issues," 22 Aug. 2019 Rodriguez remained in jail Wednesday, with bail set at $300,000. — Dallas News, "Murder suspect shot neighbor who spoke to officers after Pleasant Grove slaying, police say," 21 Aug. 2019 According to his arrest report, additional charges are pending while he is held in jail without bond. — Andrew Boryga, sun-sentinel.com, "Suspected serial rapist prowled for victims on gritty Federal Highway, cops say," 20 Aug. 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
Also, the secretary of social development under the previous president, Enrique Peña Nieto, has been jailed pending investigations into the alleged diversion of $260 million in public funds. — Washington Post, "AP Explains: State of Mexico under President López Obrador," 31 Aug. 2019 Nurse Tamika Miller, 31, who does not have a lawyer, has been jailed in Miami-Dade County since Saturday evening, records show. — Rafael Olmeda, sun-sentinel.com, "More people could be charged in Hollywood nursing home deaths, police say," 27 Aug. 2019 The 21-year-old suspect who is accused of opening fire Saturday on an El Paso Walmart, killing 20 people and wounding 26 more, has been jailed on a capital murder charge. — Dallas News, "Watch: El Paso police provide updates on Walmart massacre," 4 Aug. 2019 The lawmaker, Kuldeep Singh Sengar, has been jailed since last year on charges of rape and kidnapping. — New York Times, "Top Court Intervenes in Rape Case That Has Stunned India," 2 Aug. 2019 Hunter, a former Hamilton County Juvenile Court jude, has been jailed there since Common Pleas Judge Patrick Dinkelacker enforced a 6-month sentence handed down in 2014. — Mark Curnutte, Cincinnati.com, "'It's a bunch of BS:' Supporters twice protest Tracie Hunter's sentence," 25 July 2019 Calamardo has more of a reputation as a small-time hood and has been jailed on drug charges. — Danny Gold, SI.com, "The Broken Case of David Ortiz," 23 July 2019 McCormick has been jailed on $120,000 since her November arrest. — Carol Robinson | [email protected], al.com, "Alabama mother indicted in beating and starvation of daughters," 16 July 2019 The original proposal to hold mass bail hearings collapsed when after judges reviewed a list of potential cases and found nearly all the defendants had other reasons to be jailed. — Adam Ferrise, cleveland.com, "Mass bond hearings for non-violent Cuyahoga County Jail inmates scrapped, but new plan arises to reduce population," 23 Aug. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'jail.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for jail
jail
noun
English Language Learners Definition of jail
(Entry 1 of 2)