state prison

American

noun

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

State prison British

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

Etymology

Origin of state prison

First recorded in 1715–25

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.

But given his scheduled release from state prison, prosecutors decided to file new charges against him.

From Los Angeles Times

He was last released from state prison in 2023, according to a spokesperson for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

From Los Angeles Times

Barber was sentenced to more than 10 years in state prison on June 20.

From Los Angeles Times

Many more people live in federal and state prisons where private contractors often source the food and medical care, or receive easy labor from its inhabitants.

From Salon

There is not a single documented case of the department’s releasing someone from state prison without offering to ensure a smooth transfer of custody.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023