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.

This explains why roughly 1,200 prisoners of conscience, including some 700 arrested for participating in islandwide protests against the dictatorship on July 11, 2021, remain behind bars.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

"It brings great closure to everybody that this individual is behind bars," Garland said.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

Kornev’s tragedy is that, while he may not be behind bars, he can’t see the prison he’s trapped in.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

Fifteen of its mayors are now behind bars.

From Barron's • Mar. 9, 2026

Men like Swart, Gregory, and Warrant Officer Brand reinforced my belief in the essential humanity even of those who had kept me behind bars for the previous twenty-seven and a half years.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela