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cell block

American  
[sel-blok] / ˈsɛlˌblɒk /
Or cellblock

noun

  1. a unit of a prison consisting of a number of cells.


Etymology

Origin of cell block

cell + block

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.

After Sarkozy entered prison Tuesday, Le Pen reposted a video that she suggested was taken inside his prison with inmates hurling insults at him from across the cell block.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 26, 2025

He wasn’t surprised when, about a year after he received Stern’s letter, a trailer for a show about him appeared on the TV in the cell block.

From Slate • Oct. 13, 2025

The pair were in the same cell block - Mann serving four years for his role in a failed coup attempt in Equatorial Guinea in 2004 and Chivayo a couple of years for fraud.

From BBC • Jun. 21, 2025

Joe Stegner, a former Republican leader, helped bring Idaho closer than ever toward building a hospital to replace the cell block in 2007 and 2008.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 13, 2023

Then a light went on in the anteroom leading to the cell block.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy