verb
Other Word Forms
- incarceration noun
- incarcerative adjective
- incarcerator noun
- unincarcerated adjective
Etymology
Origin of incarcerate
First recorded in 1520–30; from Medieval Latin incarcerātus, past participle of incarcerāre “to imprison,” equivalent to in- “in” + carcer “prison” + -ātus past participle suffix; in- 2, -ate 1
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.
“Nobody has endured what he has over the past few years. People tried to murder him, incarcerate him, slander him. But here he is. I’m so very proud.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2026
States that build more prisons incarcerate more people.
From Slate • Jul. 30, 2024
We can’t arrest, incarcerate and punish our way out of this complex problem.
From Salon • Apr. 20, 2024
“We’re way beyond thinking that we can just incarcerate more people,” said Patrice Sulton, executive director of the D.C.
From Seattle Times • Jul. 29, 2023
“I see they spared no expense to incarcerate us,” I say.
From "Internment" by Samira Ahmed
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.
