parole

[ puh-rohl ]

/ pəˈroʊl /

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See synonyms for parole on Thesaurus.com

noun

Penology.

the conditional release of a person from prison prior to the end of the maximum sentence imposed.
such release or its duration.
an official document authorizing such a release.

Military.

the promise, usually written, of a prisoner of war, that if released he or she either will return to custody at a specified time or will not again take up arms against his or her captors.
(formerly) any password given by authorized personnel in passing by a guard.

word of honor given or pledged.

(in U.S. immigration laws) the temporary admission of aliens into the U.S. for emergency reasons or on grounds considered in the public interest, as authorized by and at the discretion of the attorney general.

verb (used with object), pa·roled, pa·rol·ing.

to place or release on parole.

to admit (an alien) into the U.S. under the parole provision: An increased number of Hungarian refugees were paroled into the United States.

adjective

of or relating to parole or parolees: a parole record.

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Origin of parole

1610–20; <Middle French, short for parole d'honneur word of honor. See parol

OTHER WORDS FROM parole

pa·rol·a·ble, adjectiveun·pa·rol·a·ble, adjectiveun·pa·roled, adjective

Words nearby parole

parody, paroecious, paroicous, parokheth, parol, parole, parolee, paromphalocele, paronomasia, paronychia, paronym

Other definitions for parole (2 of 2)

parole²

[ pa-rawl ]

/ paˈrɔl /

noun French.

language as manifested in the actual utterances produced by speakers of a language (contrasted with langue).

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use parole in a sentence

The day before, he had unsuccessfully tried to amend it to mandate life without parole for capital offenses.
With state Senate vote, Virginia moves closer to abolishing death penalty|Laura Vozzella, Gregory S. Schneider|February 3, 2021|Washington Post
Run by Stacey Putka, who used to provide counseling to men on parole, it’s just one of many education schemes—public and private—to help those in US prisons have a better life once they’re not.
On surviving—and leaving—prison during a pandemic|Sarah Scoles|January 21, 2021|Popular-Science
In that film, he was responsible for making sure Ant-Man didn’t violate his parole.
All the Marvel Clues You Missed in WandaVision's First Two Episodes|Eliana Dockterman|January 15, 2021|Time
A conviction on each charge should come with mandatory jail time — up to five years with no parole, in this case — according to state law.
How Criminal Cops Often Avoid Jail|by Andrew Ford, Asbury Park Press|September 23, 2020|ProPublica

The Department of Homeland Security should have paroled the family into the United States, so the newborn and his mother could access medical care, he said.
Border Patrol Sent a Newborn U.S. Citizen to Mexico|Maya Srikrishnan|July 10, 2020|Voice of San Diego
On his eighth try, more than three decades after he went in, the parole board finally voted to release Sam.
His First Day Out Of Jail After 40 Years: Adjusting To Life Outside|Justin Rohrlich|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Denied parole nine straight times, he insists he is innocent of the crime for which he was convicted.
His First Day Out Of Jail After 40 Years: Adjusting To Life Outside|Justin Rohrlich|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
As a free man, even on parole, I can sense that my life has value again.
A Million Ways to Die in Prison|Daniel Genis|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They were waiting for the next visit from their children, for the next parole hearing, for any word from the “outside.”
During Advent, Lots of Waiting, But Not Enough Hope|Gene Robinson|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In 1987, Atkins was married again, to attorney James Whitehouse, who had represented her some of her final parole hearings.
Charles Manson, Ted Bundy & Other Notorious Jailhouse Weddings|Caitlin Dickson|November 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The parole was easily secured, but a week passed before they considered it safe to move Randolph.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
The account of the Four Masters, who say nothing of his having given parole, cannot be reconciled with the dates.
Ireland Under the Tudors, Vol. II (of 3)|Richard Bagwell
Look here; tell her that in view of the delay, it is my judgment that she ought to enlarge the accused on his parole.
A Horse's Tale|Mark Twain
The parole of a Rohan is all very well, but only for me, and the brothers will want to know yonder how I employ their money.
Balsamo, The Magician|Alexander Dumas
The prisoners always respected their parole on wood-chopping expeditions, and went out and came in at the main entrance.
Famous Adventures And Prison Escapes of the Civil War|Various

British Dictionary definitions for parole

parole

/ (pəˈrəʊl) /

noun

the freeing of a prisoner before his sentence has expired, on the condition that he is of good behaviour
the duration of such conditional release

a promise given by a prisoner, as to be of good behaviour if granted liberty or partial liberty

a variant spelling of parol

US military a password

linguistics language as manifested in the individual speech acts of particular speakersCompare langue, performance (def. 7), competence (def. 5)

on parole

conditionally released from detention
informal (of a person) under scrutiny, esp for a recurrence of an earlier shortcoming

verb (tr)

to place (a person) on parole

Derived forms of parole

parolable, adjectiveparolee (pəˌrəʊˈliː), noun

Word Origin for parole

C17: from Old French, from the phrase parole d'honneur word of honour; parole from Late Latin parabola speech

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

parole

Origin of parole

OTHER WORDS FROM parole

Words nearby parole

Other definitions for parole (2 of 2)

Words related to parole

How to use parole in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for parole

Derived forms of parole

Word Origin for parole