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Jail synonyms

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prison
A place or condition of confinement or restriction:
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  1. A place or condition of confinement or restriction:
  2. The state or condition of being confined, restricted, or limited in any way
  3. A building, usually with cells, where convicted criminals, esp. those serving longer sentences, are confined
penitentiary
A prison
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  1. A prison
  2. A penal institution that is intended for long-term confinement of convicted criminals. See also jail. A penal institution that is intended for long-term confinement of convicted criminals. See also jail.
  3. A prison for those convicted of major crimes.
house of correction
An institution for the confinement of persons convicted of minor criminal offenses.
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  1. An institution for the confinement of persons convicted of minor criminal offenses.
  2. A place of short-term confinement for persons convicted of minor offenses and regarded as capable of being reformed
  3. An institution dedicated to the management and rehabilitation of persons perceived to be at risk of becoming criminals.
penal institution
Any jail or other place of confinement including work camps, jails, reformatories, penitentiaries, and correctional institutions. Any jail or other place of confinement including work camps, jails, reformatories, penitentiaries, and correctional institutions.
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  1. Any jail or other place of confinement including work camps, jails, reformatories, penitentiaries, and correctional institutions. Any jail or other place of confinement including work camps, jails, reformatories, penitentiaries, and correctional institutions.
correctional-facility
(Chiefly US) A prison, reformatory, or similar institution in which people are confined for the purpose of punishment and/or social rehabilitation.
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  1. (Chiefly US) A prison, reformatory, or similar institution in which people are confined for the purpose of punishment and/or social rehabilitation.
goal
The line, crossbar, or net over or into which the ball or puck must be passed to score
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  1. The line, crossbar, or net over or into which the ball or puck must be passed to score
  2. (Sports) A structure or area into which players endeavor to propel a ball or puck in order to score points.
  3. An object or end that one strives to attain; aim
cell
(Informal) cell phone
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  1. (Informal) cell phone
  2. A single unit that converts radiant energy into electric energy:
  3. A fuel cell.
carcel
(Historical) A former unit to measure the intensity of light, approximately 9.74 candelas
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  1. (Historical) A former unit to measure the intensity of light, approximately 9.74 candelas
cage
(Hockey) The network frame that is the goal
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  1. (Hockey) The network frame that is the goal
  2. A box or enclosed structure made of wires, bars, etc., for confining birds or animals
  3. A structure for confining birds or animals, enclosed on at least one side by a grating of wires or bars that lets in air and light.
guardhouse
The building housing military police
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  1. The building housing military police
  2. A building used by the members of a guard when not walking a post
  3. A small security station, often at the entrance to a facility or a city.
guardroom
A room in which military prisoners are confined.
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  1. A room in which military prisoners are confined.
  2. A room used by the members of a guard when not walking a post
  3. A cell in which military prisoners are kept
brig
A jail or prison on board a US Navy or Coast Guard vessel.
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  1. A jail or prison on board a US Navy or Coast Guard vessel.
  2. (Mil., Slang) The guardhouse; prison
  3. (US) A jail or guardhouse, especially in a naval military prison or jail on a ship, navy base, or (in fiction) spacecraft.
pound
A container, as on a boat, in which fish are kept.
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  1. A container, as on a boat, in which fish are kept.
  2. The pound key on a telephone.
  3. The part of a canal between two locks, and therefore at the same water level.
reformatory
A penal institution for the discipline, reformation, and training of young or first offenders.
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  1. A penal institution for the discipline, reformation, and training of young or first offenders.
  2. An institution to which young offenders convicted of lesser crimes are sent for training and discipline intended to reform rather than punish them
  3. A prison, especially one for juveniles; a reform school.
stockade
An enclosure protected by a wall of wooden posts
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  1. An enclosure protected by a wall of wooden posts
  2. A defensive barrier made of strong posts or timbers driven upright side by side into the ground.
  3. A similar fenced or enclosed area, especially one used for protection.
concentration-camp
A place or situation characterized by extremely harsh conditions.
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  1. A place or situation characterized by extremely harsh conditions.
  2. A camp in which political dissidents, members of minority ethnic groups, etc. are confined
  3. A camp where persons are confined, usually without hearings and typically under harsh conditions, often as a result of their membership in a group the government has identified as suspect.
penal-colony
A colonial territory used (mainly) for the detention and forced labor of deportees, typically where free labor is desperately scarce.
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  1. A colonial territory used (mainly) for the detention and forced labor of deportees, typically where free labor is desperately scarce.
dungeon
Donjon
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  1. Donjon
  2. A dark, often underground chamber used to confine prisoners.
  3. A dark underground cell, vault, or prison
bastille
A prison in France, the storming of which in 1789 CE began the French Revolution.
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  1. A prison in France, the storming of which in 1789 CE began the French Revolution.
  2. In ancient warfare, a tower for defense or attack; small fortress
  3. A prison; a jail.
oubliette
A dungeon only accessible by a trapdoor at the top. [from 18th c.]
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  1. A dungeon only accessible by a trapdoor at the top. [from 18th c.]
  2. A concealed dungeon having a trap door in the ceiling as its only opening
  3. A dungeon with a trapdoor in the ceiling as its only means of entrance or exit.
slammer
(Slang) A prison or jail
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  1. (Slang) A prison or jail
  2. A person or thing that slams
  3. One that slams:
cooler
A device, container, or room for cooling things or keeping them cool
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  1. A device, container, or room for cooling things or keeping them cool
  2. A cold drink, usually carbonated, fruit-flavored, and containing wine or other alcoholic ingredients.
  3. (US, countable or uncountable) a mixed drink, especially one served chilled
lockup
The state of being locked.
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  1. The state of being locked.
  2. A being locked up, as in jail
  3. (Informal) A jail, especially one in which offenders are held while awaiting a court hearing.
stir
Movement; activity; agitation
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  1. Movement; activity; agitation
  2. A slight movement:
  3. Prison.
pen
An instrument for writing regarded as a means of expression:
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  1. An instrument for writing regarded as a means of expression:
  2. A device with a half-tubular metal point split into two nibs, now used esp. by artists and draftsmen
  3. An instrument for writing or drawing with ink or similar fluid, especially:
clink
A light, sharp ringing sound, as of glass or metal.
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  1. A light, sharp ringing sound, as of glass or metal.
  2. (Onomatopoeia) The sound of metal on metal, or glass on glass.
  3. A prison or a prison cell; a jail:
jug
The contents of such a container
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  1. The contents of such a container
  2. A sound meant to imitate a nightingale's note
  3. A large, often rounded vessel of earthenware, glass, or metal with a small mouth, a handle, and usually a stopper or cap.
can
(Slang) A jail or prison.
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  1. (Slang) A jail or prison.
  2. A usually cylindrical metal container.
  3. Any of various containers usually or traditionally cylindrical, made of metal, and with a separate cover
big house
(Slang) A penitentiary
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  1. (Slang) A penitentiary
  2. (Slang) Prison, jail.
black hole
A massive star in the last phase of its evolution, in which the star collapses, creating a volume of space-time with a gravitational field so intense that its escape velocity equals or exceeds that of light.
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  1. A massive star in the last phase of its evolution, in which the star collapses, creating a volume of space-time with a gravitational field so intense that its escape velocity equals or exceeds that of light.
  2. An extremely dense celestial object whose gravitational field is so strong that not even light can escape from its vicinity. Black holes are believed to form in the aftermath of a supernova with the collapse of the star's core.
  3. (Place, proper) A small dungeon at Calcutta: it was once believed that over 100 Europeans were confined there one night in 1756 by their Indian captors and died from heat and lack of air
tank
An enclosed, heavily armored combat vehicle that is armed with cannon and machine guns and moves on continuous tracks.
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  1. An enclosed, heavily armored combat vehicle that is armed with cannon and machine guns and moves on continuous tracks.
  2. (Slang) A jail cell, esp. one for new prisoners charged with misdemeanors
  3. (Slang) A jail or jail cell.
hulks
Plural form of hulk
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  1. Plural form of hulk
limbo
A dance, originated in the West Indies, in which the dancers bend from the knees as far back as possible to pass beneath a horizontal bar that is set lower and lower
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  1. A dance, originated in the West Indies, in which the dancers bend from the knees as far back as possible to pass beneath a horizontal bar that is set lower and lower
  2. A dance played by taking turns crossing under a horizontal bar or stick. The stick is lowered with each round, and the game is won by the player who passes under the bar in the lowest position.
  3. (Place, proper) In some Christian theologies, the eternal abode or state, neither heaven nor hell, of the souls of infants or others dying in original sin but free of grievous personal sin, or, before the coming of Christ, the temporary abode or state of all holy souls after death
death-house
The section of a prison containing an execution chamber and the cells in which persons condemned to die are housed in the days just before their execution
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  1. The section of a prison containing an execution chamber and the cells in which persons condemned to die are housed in the days just before their execution
pokey
(Slang) A jail
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  1. (Slang) A jail
  2. A jail or prison.
calaboose
A jail.
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  1. A jail.
  2. (US, dialect) A prison or gaol/jail.
  3. (Slang, Dial., former) A prison; jail
coop
A cramped or uncomfortably confined space.
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  1. A cramped or uncomfortably confined space.
  2. (Slang) A jail or prison.
  3. A small cage, pen, or building as for poultry
hoosegow
(Old, Slang) A jail or guardhouse
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  1. (Old, Slang) A jail or guardhouse
confine
To keep within bounds; restrict:
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  1. To keep within bounds; restrict:
  2. To restrict in movement:
  3. To have a common boundary; to border; to lie contiguous; to touch; followed by on or with.
imprison
To restrict, limit, or confine in any way
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  1. To restrict, limit, or confine in any way
  2. To put or keep in prison; jail
  3. To put in or as if in prison; confine.
lock up
To invest in something long term
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  1. To invest in something long term
  2. (Intransitive, mechanics) to stop moving, to seize
  3. (Intransitive, computing) to cease responding, to freeze
incarcerate
To shut up; confine
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  1. To shut up; confine
  2. To imprison; jail
  3. To put in a prison or jail.
sentence
The pronouncement of punishment by a court following a criminal defendant having been found guilty of a crime. The pronouncement of punishment by a court following a criminal defendant having been found guilty of a crime. The handing down of a term of punishment by a court.
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  1. The pronouncement of punishment by a court following a criminal defendant having been found guilty of a crime. The pronouncement of punishment by a court following a criminal defendant having been found guilty of a crime. The handing down of a term of punishment by a court.
  2. To impose a sentence on (a criminal defendant found guilty, for example).
  3. To pronounce judgment or punishment upon (a convicted person); condemn (to a specified punishment)
impound
(Law) To hold in the custody of a court or its delegate.
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  1. (Law) To hold in the custody of a court or its delegate.
  2. To set aside in a fund rather than spend as prescribed:
  3. (Law, banking) To collect and hold (funds) for payment of property taxes and insurance on property in which one has a security interest.
detain
Keep (someone) from proceeding by holding them back or making claims on their attention.
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  1. Keep (someone) from proceeding by holding them back or making claims on their attention.
  2. (Archaic) To retain or withhold (payment or property, for example).
  3. To put under custody.
jug
(Slang) To jail
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  1. (Slang) To jail
  2. To stew (a hare, for example) in an earthenware jug or jar.
  3. (Slang) To put into jail.
brig
(U.S. Navy) A place where offenders are temporarily confined, as on a warship
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  1. (U.S. Navy) A place where offenders are temporarily confined, as on a warship
  2. A jail or prison on board a US Navy or Coast Guard vessel.
  3. (US) A jail or guardhouse, especially in a naval military prison or jail on a ship, navy base, or (in fiction) spacecraft.
house of correction
An institution for the confinement of persons convicted of minor criminal offenses.
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  1. An institution for the confinement of persons convicted of minor criminal offenses.
  2. A place of short-term confinement for persons convicted of minor offenses and regarded as capable of being reformed
  3. An institution dedicated to the management and rehabilitation of persons perceived to be at risk of becoming criminals.
keep
(Rare) A keeping or being kept
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  1. (Rare) A keeping or being kept
  2. Care; charge:
  3. The means by which one is supported:
penitentiary
An office or tribunal headed by a cardinal (Grand Penitentiary) and dealing with matters of penance, confession, dispensation, absolution, etc.
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  1. An office or tribunal headed by a cardinal (Grand Penitentiary) and dealing with matters of penance, confession, dispensation, absolution, etc.
  2. A priest whose special function is the administration of the sacrament of penance in a particular church or diocese.
  3. A penal institution that is intended for long-term confinement of convicted criminals. See also jail. A penal institution that is intended for long-term confinement of convicted criminals. See also jail.
prison
See penal institution, jail, and penitentiary. See penal institution, jail, and penitentiary.
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  1. See penal institution, jail, and penitentiary. See penal institution, jail, and penitentiary.
  2. A place or condition of confinement or restriction:
  3. The state or condition of being confined, restricted, or limited in any way
lockup
The state of being locked.
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  1. The state of being locked.
  2. A being locked up, as in jail
  3. (Informal) A jail, especially one in which offenders are held while awaiting a court hearing.
pen
An instrument for writing regarded as a means of expression:
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  1. An instrument for writing regarded as a means of expression:
  2. The animals kept in such an enclosure.
  3. An instrument for writing or drawing with ink or similar fluid, especially:
big house
(Slang) A penitentiary
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  1. (Slang) A penitentiary
  2. (Slang) Prison, jail.
can
(Slang) A jail or prison.
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  1. (Slang) A jail or prison.
  2. A usually cylindrical metal container.
  3. Any of various containers usually or traditionally cylindrical, made of metal, and with a separate cover
clink
Stress cracks produced in metal ingots as they cool after being cast.
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  1. Stress cracks produced in metal ingots as they cool after being cast.
  2. (Slang) Jail or prison, after the Clink prison in Southwark, London. Used in the phrase in the clink.
  3. (Onomatopoeia) The sound of metal on metal, or glass on glass.
cooler
(US, countable or uncountable) a mixed drink, especially one served chilled
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  1. (US, countable or uncountable) a mixed drink, especially one served chilled
  2. A device, container, or room for cooling things or keeping them cool
  3. (Countable) an insulated bin or box used with ice or freezer packs to keep food or beverages cold while picnicking or camping
coop
A small cage, pen, or building as for poultry
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  1. A small cage, pen, or building as for poultry
  2. Alternative spelling of co-op.
  3. A cramped or uncomfortably confined space.
hoosegow
(Old, Slang) A jail or guardhouse
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  1. (Old, Slang) A jail or guardhouse
joint
One of the parts or sections of a jointed whole
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  1. One of the parts or sections of a jointed whole
  2. The way in which they are joined
  3. A way in which two or more things are joined:
jug
The amount that a jug can hold.
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  1. The amount that a jug can hold.
  2. A large, often rounded vessel of earthenware, glass, or metal with a small mouth, a handle, and usually a stopper or cap.
  3. A sound meant to imitate a nightingale's note
pokey
(Slang) A jail
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  1. (Slang) A jail
  2. A jail or prison.
slammer
(Slang) A prison or jail
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  1. (Slang) A prison or jail
  2. A person or thing that slams
  3. One that slams:
stir
A stirring, mixing, or poking movement:
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  1. A stirring, mixing, or poking movement:
  2. An excited reaction or commotion:
  3. A slight movement:
calaboose
A jail.
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  1. A jail.
  2. (Slang, Dial., former) A prison; jail
  3. (US, dialect) A prison or gaol/jail.
confine
To have a common boundary; to border; to lie contiguous; to touch; followed by on or with.
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  1. To have a common boundary; to border; to lie contiguous; to touch; followed by on or with.
  2. To restrict in movement:
  3. To keep within bounds; restrict:
detain
To put under custody.
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  1. To put under custody.
  2. (Archaic) To retain or withhold (payment or property, for example).
  3. Keep (someone) from proceeding by holding them back or making claims on their attention.
immure
To shut up within or as within walls; imprison, confine, or seclude
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  1. To shut up within or as within walls; imprison, confine, or seclude
  2. To build into a wall:
imprison
To restrict, limit, or confine in any way
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  1. To restrict, limit, or confine in any way
  2. To put or keep in prison; jail
  3. To put in or as if in prison; confine.
incarcerate
To imprison; jail
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  1. To imprison; jail
  2. To put in a prison or jail.
  3. To shut up; confine
intern
To detain or confine (foreign persons, ships, etc.), as during a war
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  1. To detain or confine (foreign persons, ships, etc.), as during a war
  2. To confine, especially in wartime.
  3. To train or serve as an intern.
lock
To equip (a waterway) with locks.
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  1. To equip (a waterway) with locks.
  2. To become fastened by or as if by means of a lock:
  3. To pass through a lock or locks in a waterway.
Find another word for jail. In this page you can discover 90 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for jail, like: prison, penitentiary, house of correction, penal institution, correctional-facility, goal, cell, carcel, cage, guardhouse and guardroom.

Sentence Examples

  • The point is that he went to jail for it.

  • We lost his mother to cancer at an early age and his father is in jail, convicted of fraud.

  • Ahead of him was the possibility of a jail sentence.

  • If you put me in jail again, when I get out there won't be a safe place for you.

  • A municipal court building, a city jail and a children's detention house, all of stone, were erected, the first in 1912, the others in succeeding years, at a cost of $1,855,000.

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Words near jail in the Thesaurus