Definition

1. Noun:

   • A place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody: A jail is a building where people are legally held, typically those accused of crimes awaiting trial or those convicted of crimes and serving a sentence.

2. Verb:

   • To put or keep someone in a jail: To jail someone means to confine them in such an institution as a form of legal punishment or detention.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • He spent three years in jail for the crime.
  • The new jail was built to reduce overcrowding in the city's detention facilities.

• Verb:

  • The judge could jail him for contempt of court.
  • They were jailed without bail due to the severity of the charges.

Advanced Usage

• "to break jail": to escape from a jail.

  • The inmates attempted to break jail but were quickly recaptured.

• "to be sent to jail": to be sentenced to serve time in a jail.

  • If convicted, he could be sent to jail for up to ten years.

Variants and Related Words

• Jailer (noun): a person who guards or is in charge of a jail.

  • The jailer unlocked the cell door.

• Jailbreak (noun): an escape from jail.

  • The famous jailbreak was depicted in a movie.

• Jailbird (noun, informal): a person who is or has been in jail, often repeatedly.

  • The old jailbird was back in custody within a month of his release.

Synonyms

• Prison (noun): a building for the confinement of people convicted of serious crimes. (Often implies a longer-term or more secure facility than "jail".)
• Incarcerate (verb): to imprison or confine.
• Lock up (verb, phrasal): to put someone in a jail or prison.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Jail in: This is not a standard phrasal verb. The verb "to jail" is typically used transitively (e.g., ).

Related Idioms

• "Jail bait" (slang, offensive): A young person, especially a girl, who is below the age of consent, implying that sexual involvement could lead to a jail sentence. (Note: This term is derogatory and should be avoided.)
• "To be in the jailhouse": to be in jail.
  • He's back in the jailhouse for another petty theft.

Noun

1. a correctional institution used to detain persons who are in the lawful custody of the government (either accused persons awaiting trial or convicted persons serving a sentence)

Verb

1. lock up or confine, in or as in a jail
   • The suspects were imprisoned without trial
   • the murderer was incarcerated for the rest of his life