jailer

Or jail·or

[jey-ler]

noun

1. a person who is in charge of a jail or section of a jail.

2. a person who forcibly confines another.

jailer

/ ˈdʒeɪlə /

noun

1. a person in charge of prisoners in a jail

Other Word Forms

• underjailer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of jailer¹

1250–1300; Middle English gaioler, jaioler, jailer < Old French jaiolier. See jail, -er ²

Example Sentences

Most of the time, jailers just looked at her federal ID and let her in without asking why she was there.

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Chief jailer George Webb checks a list of articles to be moved to temporary quarters on the city pier in Dec. 7, 1938.

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And he suggested the department could reduce its jail staffing needs by releasing some people if jailers are not able to provide a constitutionally adequate level of care.

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While concerns about staff-incited violence are commonplace among juvenile defense attorneys, Gunsberg said that officers are not punished because youths are rarely willing to speak out against their jailers.

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Three other inmates then joined in, punching the jailer and stomping his head until he fell unconscious.

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Related Words

• prison guard www.thesaurus.com