jail
jayl
Jail (noun) means a building where people are held in custody, typically for short sentences or while awaiting trial. Example: “He spent the night in the local jail after the bar fight.”
noun
1
A building where people are held in custody, typically for short sentences or while awaiting trial.
"He spent the night in the local jail after the bar fight."
"She was released from jail after her bail was posted."
"The town's old jail is now a small museum."
verb
1
To put someone in a jail or otherwise deprive them of freedom.
"The judge jailed him for six months for the assault."
"The magistrate jailed the thief for three months."
"Drivers who ignore the ban could be jailed."
How to use jail
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA place where people are locked up, or the act of locking someone up.
UK vs US
In the US, "jail" usually means short-term local lockup (as opposed to "prison" for longer federal or state sentences); in the UK the words are used more interchangeably.
Common pairings
thrown in jail
jail time
released from jail
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Word forms
- Plural
- jails
- Third person singular
- jails
- Past tense
- jailed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He spent the night in the local _____ after the bar fight.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman jaiole, tracing back to Latin cavea, "cage" — the same root that gives us "cage" and "cajole."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for jail
See all rhymes for jail →Frequently asked questions
What does “jail” mean?
The word “jail” means a building where people are held in custody, typically for short sentences or while awaiting trial. In plain terms, a place where people are locked up, or the act of locking someone up.
How do you pronounce “jail”?
“Jail” is pronounced jayl (/d͡ʒeɪl/ in IPA).
How do you use “jail” in a sentence?
Here is “jail” used in a sentence: “He spent the night in the local jail after the bar fight.”
What is another word for “jail”?
Words with a similar meaning to “jail” include big house, borstal, bridewell, brig, can and calaboose.
What part of speech is “jail”?
Depending on how it is used, “jail” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “jail” come from?
The word “jail” comes from Latin. From Anglo-Norman jaiole, tracing back to Latin cavea, "cage" — the same root that gives us "cage" and "cajole.".
Is “jail” a common word?
“Jail” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “jail” have?
“Jail” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a building where people are held in custody, typically for short sentences or while awaiting trial.
What is the difference between jail and prison?
A jail holds people short-term — those awaiting trial or serving brief sentences — and is usually run by a local authority. A prison holds people convicted of more serious crimes for longer sentences, and is typically run by a state or national government. The key differences are sentence length and who operates the facility.
What is an example of when someone goes to jail?
People are held in jail after an arrest while awaiting a bail hearing or trial, or after conviction for a minor offence carrying a short sentence. Examples include detention for a misdemeanour, failure to pay fines, or a brief remand. Jail is generally for temporary custody rather than long-term punishment.
Is jail the same as being arrested?
Not quite. Being arrested is the act of taking someone into custody; jail is the building where they may then be held. An arrest can lead to a short stay in a holding cell or jail, but people are sometimes released without ever being jailed. Arrest is the event, jail the place.
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