noun
inmate
IHN-mayt
noun
1
A person held in a prison.
"The inmate was released after serving eight years."
2
A patient confined to a hospital or institution.
"The asylum's inmates received little proper medical care in that era."
How to Use Inmate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone confined to an institution, most commonly a prisoner.
Common pairings
prison inmate
former inmate
fellow inmate
Word Forms
inmates plural
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The _____ was released after serving eight years.
Etymology
From inn plus -mate, or possibly in- plus -mate — originally meaning simply someone who lodges together with others.