inmate

[ in-meyt ]

noun

1. a person who is confined in a prison, hospital, etc.
2. Archaic. a person who dwells with others in the same house.

inmate

/ ˈɪnˌmeɪt /

noun

1. See resident
   a person who is confined to an institution such as a prison or hospital See also resident
2. obsolete.
   a person who lives with others in a house

Word History and Origins

Origin of inmate¹

First recorded in 1580–90; in- ¹ + mate ¹

Example Sentences

Washington, Oregon, and California also rely on inmates to bolster their firefighting efforts.

From Vox

A Bureau of Prisons spokesman told VOSD that the downtown prison has been performing targeted coronavirus testing and has tried to limit inmate moves between facilities.

From Voice of San Diego

As of Thursday, there were 129 active coronavirus cases among inmates and 140 people had recovered.

From Voice of San Diego

Werner told Morris she believed the Sheriff’s Department wasn’t doing enough to protect staff and inmates from the coronavirus.

From Voice of San Diego

During previous wildfires, California has used state prison inmates who volunteer for reduced sentences and a small amounts of money.

From Fortune

In none of the weddings Joplin has performed did the inmate have more than five years to serve.

From The Daily Beast

I spent four years in a prison where each handicapped convict was issued an underpaid inmate assistant.

From The Daily Beast

The woman had accompanied a friend who was visiting her boyfriend when she met the inmate she would marry.

From The Daily Beast

The last federal position he held was Inmate--he served more than eight years for his inventive approach to acquiring money.

From The Daily Beast

However, if an inmate cannot find a job, he should expect to sleep outside with other homeless inmates.

From The Daily Beast

I grieve that one of the most promising of them is now an inmate in my cabin, in a very delicate state of health.

From Project Gutenberg

He could not bear the thought of her unhappiness, and yet, at any sacrifice, Tatsu must be kept an inmate of their home.

From Project Gutenberg

The officers make the alternative quickly apparent to the new inmate: to protest against injustice is unavailing and dangerous.

From Project Gutenberg

These last gave the name and country of many an unhappy inmate, with the date of the fatal day of their captivity.

From Project Gutenberg

In no case can any inmate claim it as a right, and it is not to be given merely on account of household work.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• convict
• prisoner