incarcerate

[ verb in-kahr-suh-reyt; adjective in-kahr-ser-it, -suh-reyt ]

/ verb ɪnˈkɑr səˌreɪt; adjective ɪnˈkɑr sər ɪt, -səˌreɪt /

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verb (used with object), in·car·cer·at·ed, in·car·cer·at·ing.

to imprison; confine.

to enclose; constrict closely.

adjective

imprisoned.

Nearby words

incapacitated, incapacity, incapacity benefit, incaparina, incapsulate, incarcerate, incarcerated, incarcerated hernia, incarceration, incardinate, incardination

Origin of incarcerate

1520–30; < Medieval Latin incarcerātus past participle of incarcerāre to imprison, equivalent to in- in-² + carcer prison + -ātus -ate¹

SYNONYMS FOR incarcerate

1 jail, immure, intern.

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Related forms

in·car·cer·a·tion, nounin·car·cer·a·tive, adjectivein·car·cer·a·tor, nounun·in·car·cer·at·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for incarcerate

But we could not incarcerate George Prince for being an eavesdropper.
Brigands of the Moon|Ray Cummings
"It would be against my duty to permit you to incarcerate this miscreant," he said smoothly.
Highways in Hiding|George Oliver Smith
You can incarcerate a man for such a length of time that when at last you do give him his liberty he has no love left for it.
Sally Bishop|E. Temple Thurston
If she attempts to incarcerate you, she might be successful.
The "Genius"|Theodore Dreiser

"If ever I do reach such a state, I hope the family will incarcerate me," rejoined Nan.
The Four Corners in Japan|Amy Ella Blanchard

British Dictionary definitions for incarcerate

incarcerate

/ (ɪnˈkɑːsəˌreɪt) /

verb

(tr) to confine or imprison

Derived Forms

incarceration, nounincarcerator, noun

Word Origin for incarcerate

C16: from Medieval Latin incarcerāre, from Latin in- ² + carcer prison

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012