incarceration
Americannoun
-
incarcerations
plural
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of incarceration
First recorded in 1530–40; from French incarcération, from Latin incarcerātiōn-, stem of incarcerātiō, equivalent to incarcerāt(us), past participle of incarcerāre “to imprison” + -iō -ion ( def. ); see incarcerate ( def. )
Explanation
Incarceration is the state of being in prison. If you don't fancy incarceration, don't go through with that bank heist. The noun incarceration comes from the Latin word carcer, meaning "jail." There are many different types of incarceration. If you commit a crime and get locked up, that's one form of incarceration. Some people might feel that school is a form of incarceration. Some highly religious people think of the body as an incarceration of the spirit. A great synonym for this word is captivity.
Vocabulary lists containing incarceration
Just Mercy
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They Called Us Enemy
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Turtles All the Way Down
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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.
See Examples For:
“An individual’s medical history, condition upon entering custody, and the totality of circumstances surrounding their incarceration must also be considered.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2026
Did you know that incarceration rates and racial disparities in the prison population declined in the U.S. for the first two decades of the 21st century?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026
"Minister Doughty set out how unjustified and appalling we consider Lindsay and Craig's incarceration to be, and the action that the UK Government is taking to try and secure their release," they added.
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
The government meanwhile said 131 people had been granted "alternative measures from incarceration," under the "Program for Peace and Democratic Coexistence."
From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026
The collateral consequences of mass incarceration have been equally profound.
From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
Another option would be to allow a plea of “not guilty by reason of dementia” or to enact sentencing limits similar to those protecting juveniles from lifelong incarcerations.
From Scientific American ● Aug. 17, 2023
Kahar’s incarcerations without proper rehabilitation had made it difficult for him to walk new paths, Han said.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 29, 2022
The move falls in line with Newsom’s platform of reducing recidivism through educational opportunities and mental health programs instead of tough-on-crime laws that have led to mass incarcerations in the state.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2021
Two “lifers,” locked up together indefinitely in Shawshank prison, form a bond that transcends decades of their lives and, ultimately, their own incarcerations in this heart-wrenching adaptation of a novella by Stephen King.
From New York Times ● Sep. 10, 2020
The data in this report are restricted to incarcerations in State or Federal prison.
From Prevalence of Imprisonment in the U.S. Population, 1974-2001 by Thomas P. Bonczar
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
