carceral

American  

[kahr-suh-ruhl] / ˈkɑr sə rəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to prison or imprisonment, or to other formal methods of social control.

   This book is a blueprint for policymakers to reform practices and for concerned citizens to understand our changing carceral landscape.

   Critics claim that these policies could result in an expanding carceral state.

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Etymology

Origin of carceral

First recorded in 1570–80; from Latin carcerālis, equivalent to carcer “prison” + -ālis -al ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

When June Jordan died in 2002, I was being reborn into the world of literature after a five-year prison stint inside the carceral state.

From Salon • Oct. 30, 2025

The county, which is responsible for the safety of children inside juvenile carceral facilities and foster care, has seen more than 12,000 claims and counting since the law took effect in 2020.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 28, 2025

You've also talked a lot about carceral societies and a wide variety of carceral situations.

From Salon • May 8, 2025

And there are unique risks in a carceral setting.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 12, 2024

I reflected on how mass imprisonment has littered the national landscape with carceral monuments of reckless and excessive punishment and ravaged communities with our hopeless willingness to condemn and discard the most vulnerable among us.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson