Definitions for prison
ˈprɪz ənprison

Princeton's WordNet(3.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. prison, prison housenoun

   a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment

2. prison, prison housenoun

   a prisonlike situation; a place of seeming confinement

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. prisonnoun

   A place of long-term confinement for those convicted of serious crimes, or otherwise considered undesirable by the government.

   The cold stone walls of the prison had stood for over a century.

   Etymology: From prison, from prehensionem, accusative singular of prehensio, from prehendo

2. prisonnoun

   Confinement in a prison.

   Prison was a harrowing experience for him.

   Etymology: From prison, from prehensionem, accusative singular of prehensio, from prehendo

3. prisonnoun

   Any restrictive environment, such as a harsh academy or home.

   The academy was a prison for many of its students because of its strict teachers.

   Etymology: From prison, from prehensionem, accusative singular of prehensio, from prehendo

4. prisonverb

   to imprison

   Etymology: From prison, from prehensionem, accusative singular of prehensio, from prehendo

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Prisonnoun

   a place where persons are confined, or restrained of personal liberty; hence, a place or state o/ confinement, restraint, or safe custody

   Etymology: [F., fr. L. prehensio, prensio, a seizing, arresting, fr. prehendre, prendere, to lay hold of, to seize. See Prehensile, and cf. Prize, n., Misprision.]

2. Prisonnoun

   specifically, a building for the safe custody or confinement of criminals and others committed by lawful authority

   Etymology: [F., fr. L. prehensio, prensio, a seizing, arresting, fr. prehendre, prendere, to lay hold of, to seize. See Prehensile, and cf. Prize, n., Misprision.]

3. Prisonverb

   to imprison; to shut up in, or as in, a prison; to confine; to restrain from liberty

   Etymology: [F., fr. L. prehensio, prensio, a seizing, arresting, fr. prehendre, prendere, to lay hold of, to seize. See Prehensile, and cf. Prize, n., Misprision.]

4. Prisonverb

   to bind (together); to enchain

   Etymology: [F., fr. L. prehensio, prensio, a seizing, arresting, fr. prehendre, prendere, to lay hold of, to seize. See Prehensile, and cf. Prize, n., Misprision.]

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Prison

   A prison, also known as gaol or jail, is a place in which people are physically confined and usually deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime. Other terms used are penitentiary, correctional facility, remand centre, detention centre, and gaol or jail. In some legal systems some of these terms have distinct meanings. A criminal suspect who has been charged with or is likely to be charged with criminal offense or Offence may be held on remand in prison if he or she is denied or unable to meet conditions of bail, or is unable or unwilling to post bail. A criminal defendant may also be held in prison while awaiting trial or a trial verdict. If found guilty, a defendant will be convicted and may receive a custodial sentence requiring imprisonment. As well as convicted or suspected criminals, prisons may be used for internment of those not charged with a crime. Prisons may also be used as a tool of political repression to detain political prisoners, prisoners of conscience, and "enemies of the state", particularly by authoritarian regimes. In times of war or conflict, prisoners of war may also be detained in prisons. A prison system is the organizational arrangement of the provision and operation of prisons.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Prison

   priz′n, n. a building for the confinement of criminals, &c.: a jail: any place of confinement.—v.t. to shut in prison, restrain.—n.pl. Pris′on-bars, whatever confines or restrains.—ns. Pris′oner, one arrested or confined in prison: a captive; Pris′oner's-, Pris′on-base, a game among boys, in which those who are caught in a certain way are confined as prisoners—a corr. of prison-bars; Pris′on-fē′ver, typhus-fever; Pris′on-house, place of confinement; Pris′onment (Shak.), confinement in a prison—usually imprisonment; Pris′on-ship; Pris′on-van, a closed conveyance for carrying prisoners.—State prisoner, one confined for a political offence in a state prison. [Fr.,—L. prensio, -onis, for prehensio, a seizing—prehendĕre, -hensum, to seize.]

The Roycroft Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. prison

   1. A place where any lady may have a baby without fearing society. 2. An institution where even crooks go wrong. 3. The House of a Thousand Tears. 4. The last resort of the obscure to achieve fame. 5. A banker's mess-hall. 6. A place where men go to take the vow of chastity, poverty and obedience. 7. An example of a Socialist's Paradise, where equality prevails, everything is supplied, and competition is eliminated.

Suggested Resources(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. prison

   The prison symbol -- In this Symbols.com article you will learn about the meaning of the prison symbol and its characteristic.

Matched Categories

1. • Correctional Institution
   • Situation

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'prison' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #1611

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'prison' in Written Corpus Frequency: #2483

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'prison' in Nouns Frequency: #638

Anagrams for prison »

1. prions

2. porins

3. spinor

How to pronounce prison?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say prison in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of prison in Chaldean Numerology is: 8

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of prison in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Examples of prison in a Sentence

1. Benjamin Hall:

   You should revise your stance toward Turkey, which at the moment holds so many ISIS members in prison and at the same time controls those in Syria.

2. Juan Pablo Badillo:

   He is in a different, very cold zone (of the prison) and in complete isolation.

3. Polish Jews:

   Yeah, I wouldn’t call it a gated community, more like a prison.

4. Sayed Naeem:

   Each militant got 25 years in jail. It is life in prison for the 10 militants who were tried by an anti-terrorist court.

5. Jessica Roth:

   Without the possibility of a pardon, the prospect of a conviction and potential prison sentence becomes more real, providing an incentive to cooperate to receive more favorable treatment.

Images & Illustrations of prison

Popularity rank by frequency of use