prison

[priz-uhn]

noun

1. a building for the confinement of persons held while awaiting trial, persons sentenced after conviction, etc.

2. state prison.

3. any place of confinement or involuntary restraint.

4. imprisonment.

prison

/ ˈprɪzən /

noun

1. a public building used to house convicted criminals and accused persons remanded in custody and awaiting trial See also jail penitentiary reformatory

2. any place of confinement or seeming confinement

Other Word Forms

• prisonlike adjective
• postprison adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of prison¹

before 1150; Middle English prison, earlier prisun < Old French, variant of preson imprisonment, a prison < Latin pre ( hē ) nsiōn- (stem of prehēnsiō ) a seizure, arrest, equivalent to prehēns ( us ) (past participle of prehendere to seize) + -iōn- -ion; doublet of prehension

Word History and Origins

Origin of prison¹

C12: from Old French prisun, from Latin prēnsiō a capturing, from prehendere to lay hold of

Example Sentences

In 2017, ministers allowed offenders who had been released on licence the right to vote - but made clear that Parliament would never allow votes for criminals still in prison cells.

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Rinderknecht, who moved to Florida after the fire, who was arrested Tuesday, was charged with destruction of property by means of fire and faces a minimum of five years in federal prison.

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Sir Lenny argues that black British people are grossly over-represented in the prison population and that there are relatively higher levels of black unemployment "all because of the transatlantic slave trade".

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The prison psychologist, giving evidence anonymously on Wednesday, said Norris should be moved to a lower security, closed prison where his behaviour could be tested.

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Judge Daniel Williams told him he faces "a substantial prison sentence."

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Related Words

• confinement 
• jail 
• lockup 
• penitentiary