Meaning & Definition of word "Jail"

Jail

/dʒeɪl/

1. A place for the confinement of persons held in lawful custody, especially those awaiting trial or serving a sentence.
- Example: After the judge's verdict, he was taken directly to jail.
2. A place where people are kept as punishment for a crime.
- Example: The thief was sentenced to two years in jail.
3. The condition of being confined or imprisoned.
- Example: The criminal lived in fear of returning to jail.

1. To put someone in jail; to confine or imprison.
- Example: The police decided to jail the suspect until further investigations.
2. To arrest or detain someone.
- Example: He was jailed for refusing to pay his fines.

Middle English 'gaile', from Old French 'jaiole', derived from Latin 'cavea' (cage).

jail time:

The period during which someone is incarcerated.

go to jail:

To be incarcerated as a result of legal action.

jailbird:

A person who has been in jail.

bail:

Temporary release of an accused person awaiting trial.

conviction:

A formal declaration that someone is guilty of a crime.

incarceration:

The state of being confined in prison.

Meaning: The slammer

Example Sentence: After getting caught for speeding, he said he’d rather not end up in the slammer.

Meaning: The clink

Example Sentence: He spent the weekend in the clink for public intoxication.

Meaning: The pokey

Example Sentence: She said she would never go back to the pokey after her last experience.