state prison

noun

a prison maintained by a state for the confinement of felons.

Words nearby state prison

state of the union address, state of the union message, state of war, state police, state prayers, state prison, state registered nurse, state religion, state rights, state school, state services

Origin of state prison

First recorded in 1715–25

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Examples from the Web for state prison

Love and a duel are bad enough; but an Austrian state-prison, and a sentence of twenty years in irons, are even worse.
The Fortunes Of Glencore|Charles James Lever
I can quite understand, that he should have no fancy to exchange his pretty villa for a residence in a state-prison.
Quintus Claudius, Volume 2 of 2|Ernst Eckstein
The empire still retained the fortress of Lourdes as a state-prison, and this character it kept until the return of the Bourbons.
Catholic World, Vol. XI, April 1870-September 1870|Various
Had you been convicted of the whole crime, we should have sent you to the state-prison for life.
Diary in America, Series One|Frederick Marryat (AKA Captain Marryat)

In Knowersville, the village teacher went to every house, and threatened the women with state-prison if they dared to vote.
History of Woman Suffrage, Volume III (of III)|Various

British Dictionary definitions for state prison

State prison

noun

(in the US) a prison where persons convicted of serious crimes are confined

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