incarcerate

[in-kahr-suh-reyt, in-kahr-ser-it, -suh-reyt]

verb (used with object)

incarcerated, incarcerating 

1. to imprison; confine.

   Synonyms: intern, immure, jail

2. to enclose; constrict closely.

adjective

1. imprisoned.

incarcerate

/ ɪnˈkɑːsəˌreɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to confine or imprison

Other Word Forms

• incarcerator noun
• incarceration noun
• incarcerative adjective
• unincarcerated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of incarcerate¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Medieval Latin incarcerātus, past participle of incarcerāre “to imprison,” equivalent to in- “in” + carcer “prison” + -ātus past participle suffix; in- ², -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of incarcerate¹

C16: from Medieval Latin incarcerāre, from Latin _in- ² + carcer prison

Example Sentences

The Parole Board heard Dunlop had committed other violent offences and he admitted to the panel he could have gone on to kill other people had he not been incarcerated.

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The man who wanted to be identified as G.G., is a former prisoner who was incarcerated for more than a decade on a serious crime that happened when he was a “reckless kid.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

County prosecutors had charged that Landa-Rodriguez, while incarcerated in a federal penitentiary for illegally reentering the country, sanctioned the killing of a rival’s underling.

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Instead, he shows us a glimpse of bored, incarcerated kids tossing a wadded-up foil blanket in their cage and that image alone packs a wallop.

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But in July, he signed a budget that set aside $10 million for incarcerated firefighter wages.

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Related Words

• confine 
• detain 
• imprison 
• jail 
• lock up