First recorded in 1715–25
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
If convicted, Martin faces up to 15 years and 10 months in state prison.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026
A onetime California oil boomtown about 60 miles southwest of Fresno, Avenal has spent decades off the beaten track, known more for its pistachios and sprawling state prison than for political upheaval.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026
“Given the circumstances of this case and the death that resulted, we believe a state prison commitment was the appropriate and just sentence.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026
Nineteen state prison systems are using digital tools and artificial intelligence from nonprofit Recidiviz to consolidate scattered prisoner data.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026
It turns out Mama was in the women’s state prison and Dusty was in another jail in Florida.
From "Three Little Words: A Memoir" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter
State prison data is so difficult to access that it’s tough to calculate the country’s three-year recidivism rate.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026
State prison officials attached a staggering $1-billion price tag to last year’s bill after estimating the new restrictions would require additional programming space and an expansion of exercise yards and more staff.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 20, 2023
State prison officials have said they cannot comment on any individual prisoner’s medical record.
From Reuters ● Apr. 9, 2020
State prison systems around the country generally struggle to provide adequate cancer care, according to David Fathi, director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s National Prison Project.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 24, 2020
If you don't want a thorough knowledge of the interior of State prison," he said in grim warning, "you'd better get that silly look off your face and concentrate on your duties.
From The Helpful Hand of God by Godwin, Tom
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
