prison

[priz-uhn]

noun

1. a building for the confinement of persons held while awaiting trial, persons sentenced after conviction, etc.

2. state prison.

3. any place of confinement or involuntary restraint.

4. imprisonment.

prison

/ ˈprɪzən /

noun

1. a public building used to house convicted criminals and accused persons remanded in custody and awaiting trial See also jail penitentiary reformatory

2. any place of confinement or seeming confinement

Other Word Forms

• prisonlike adjective
• postprison adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of prison¹

before 1150; Middle English prison, earlier prisun < Old French, variant of preson imprisonment, a prison < Latin pre ( hē ) nsiōn- (stem of prehēnsiō ) a seizure, arrest, equivalent to prehēns ( us ) (past participle of prehendere to seize) + -iōn- -ion; doublet of prehension

Word History and Origins

Origin of prison¹

C12: from Old French prisun, from Latin prēnsiō a capturing, from prehendere to lay hold of

Example Sentences

Stephen Lawrence's father says one of his son's murderers should name the other killers before he can be judged to be safe for release from prison.

From BBC

But he claimed he had changed in prison and the panel concluded he should be moved to an open prison.

From BBC

The 10 have been "securely accommodated", and posed no threat to the public, Eswatini's prison department said in a statement.

From BBC

Martin will have to serve 24 years in prison before he can apply to be freed on licence.

From BBC

During sentencing, Justice Christopher Beale agreed that Patterson's crimes were the worst of their kind, but said his decision to allow parole was influenced by the "harsh prison conditions" she faced.

From BBC

Related Words

• confinement 
• jail 
• lockup 
• penitentiary