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jailbird

American  
[jeyl-burd] / ˈdʒeɪlˌbɜrd /

noun

  1. a person who is or has been confined in jail; convict or ex-convict.

jailbird British  
/ ˈdʒeɪlˌbɜːd /

noun

  1. a person who is or has been confined to jail, esp repeatedly; convict

"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

Etymology

Origin of jailbird

First recorded in 1595–1605; jail + bird

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.

Another sees the two jailbirds singing the “Sweet Charity” showstopper “If My Friends Could See Me Now.”

From Los Angeles Times

Trump did not name the witness but said it was a "highly respected lawyer who once represented convicted felon, jailbird and serial fake storyteller and liar, Michael Cohen."

From Salon

The pangram from yesterday’s Spelling Bee was jailbird.

From New York Times

This subtle, amiable jailbird on temporary leave to the funny farm is saner than the men around him but he’s not necessarily brighter.

From Los Angeles Times

The Duggar family insider added that the jailbird's birthday won't be as difficult of a day for him as his kids' and wife's future milestones will be.

From Fox News

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.