parole

pa-role · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    The conditional release of a prisoner before the completion of their sentence, subject to good behavior and regular reporting.

  2. 2.

    A promise or pledge, especially one given by a prisoner of war to fulfill certain conditions in return for release.

  3. 3.

    (Linguistics) Language as it is actually used by speakers, as opposed to the abstract system of language (langue).

Forms

plural: paroles

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    on parole — released from prison under conditional terms
  • •
    parole board — a group that decides whether prisoners should be released early
  • •
    parole officer — an official who supervises people on parole
  • •
    violate parole — to break the conditions of one's parole

Related words

Antonyms: imprisonment, incarceration
See also: prison, probation, release, sentence
Synonyms: conditional freedom, probation, release

Etymology

From French parole ("word, speech, promise"), from Late Latin parabola ("speech, parable"), from Greek parabolē ("comparison"). The legal sense developed from the idea of giving one's word as a pledge.