behind bars

VERB

serving jail time

Synonyms

WEAK

confined imprisoned in jail in prison incarcerated jailed put away serving time under lock and key

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.

She was sentenced to nine years in prison, but after Polis’ commutation, Peters is expected to be released on June 1, having served less than two years behind bars for her crimes.

From Slate • May 21, 2026

The difference shapes how much time Sharifullah could spend behind bars — the more serious charge was eligible for a life sentence.

From Salon • May 19, 2026

The government also plans to implement maximum-security standards in dozens of prisons across the country in a bid to sever organized crime leaders' ability to operate from behind bars.

From Barron's • May 12, 2026

In an interview with CBS last year, Curran said he told Trump he was prepared to go behind bars with him.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 3, 2026

I love hearing about the blue-skinned Hindu god who was born behind bars, like me.

From "Born Behind Bars" by Padma Venkatraman