Translate text 
Translate files Prison
/ˈprɪzən/
Meaning & Definition
noun
A building where people are legally held as a punishment for crimes they have committed or while awaiting trial.
After the trial, he was sentenced to five years in prison.
A place or situation affording no escape; a state of confinement.
He felt as if his job was a prison, trapping him in a monotonous routine.
The condition of being imprisoned.
Her imprisonment was a stark reminder of the dangers of political dissent.
Etymology
Middle English 'prison', from Old French 'prison', from Latin 'prensio' meaning 'to seize'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
privilege of prison
A limited set of rights granted to inmates.
prison break
An escape from a prison.
prison sentence
A punishment assigned by a court of law.
Related Words
inmate
A person confined to an institution such as a prison.
warden
The person in charge of a prison.
parole
The conditional release of a prisoner before the full sentence is served.
Slang Meanings
The big house
He was sent to the big house for robbery.
The clink
I ended up in the clink for a few nights.
Lockup
After the fight, he spent the night in lockup.