prison

pris-on · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A building where people are kept as punishment for a crime.

  2. 2.

    The state of being imprisoned.

  3. 3.

    A place or situation from which it's difficult to escape.

Forms

plural: prisons

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    prison sentence — A period of imprisonment as punishment.
  • •
    prison guard — A person who supervises prisoners.
  • •
    prison break — An escape from prison.
  • •
    put in prison — Imprison someone.
  • •
    behind bars — In prison (informal).
  • •
    throw in prison — Imprison someone (emphatic).

Related words

Antonyms: freedom
See also: crime, jail, prisoner, sentence
Synonyms: correctional facility, jail, penitentiary

Etymology

From Old French prisun ("captivity, imprisonment"), from Latin prehensio ("a taking, seizing"), from prehendere ("to seize").