Definitions

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.

The local Hobart-Lawrence Police Department in Wisconsin said they attended a disturbance complaint on Saturday morning and on Tuesday the 28-year-old was taken to Brown County Jail.

From BBC • May 27, 2026

Strong supports the closing of Men’s Central Jail and said the department needed to look at medical care, filthy living conditions and a lack of healthy food and clean water.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

White said conditions at Men’s Central Jail are “disgusting” and it needed to close immediately.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

He walked out of the Orange County Jail in Goshen, New York, at 4:09 on Tuesday afternoon.

From Slate • Apr. 28, 2026

The four men were arrested and held in a Nashville Jail to await trial.

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis

jail

Example Sentences

Related Words