incarcerate

American

[in-kahr-suh-reyt, in-kahr-ser-it, -suh-reyt] / ɪnˈkɑr səˌreɪt, ɪnˈkɑr sər ɪt, -səˌreɪt /

verb (used with object)

incarcerated, incarcerating

to imprison; confine.

Synonyms:

intern, immure, jail
to enclose; constrict closely.

adjective

imprisoned.

incarcerate British

/ ɪnˈkɑːsəˌreɪt /

verb

(tr) to confine or imprison

"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

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.

Mangione, incarcerated in a federal jail in Brooklyn and flooded with mail, has tracked the letters he has received from supporters.

From The Wall Street Journal

Women would appear a prime focus for this, with almost three-quarters of those incarcerated in 2020 being held for non-violent offences, many of whom are vulnerable.

From BBC

At least 38 people incarcerated in a migrant detention center in Ciudad Juárez died in a fire, with dozens more injured.

From Los Angeles Times

The Marshals Service used the Mahoning County, Ohio, government to contract with CoreCivic, which owns the Youngstown facility, to continue incarcerating pretrial detainees.

From Washington Post

It was unclear if Warren, who was incarcerated in the Clark County Jail, had an attorney for the latest charges.

From Seattle Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023