noun
jailbreak
JAYL-brayk
Jailbreak (noun) means an escape from prison. Example: “News crews swarmed the prison after the jailbreak.”
noun
1
An escape from prison.
"News crews swarmed the prison after the jailbreak."
2
A hack that removes a phone or tablet manufacturer's software restrictions so unofficial apps can be installed.
"He jailbroke his old iPhone to install apps Apple never approved."
3
A prompt designed to trick an AI chatbot into ignoring its safety rules.
"Researchers study jailbreaks to make AI models harder to manipulate."
verb
1
To escape from prison, or to remove software restrictions from a device.
"They tried to jailbreak out through a tunnel dug under the yard."
How to use jailbreak
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBreaking free of confinement or restrictions — whether a real prison, a locked-down phone, or an AI's safety rules.
Common pairings
jailbreak an iPhone
attempt a jailbreak
AI jailbreak prompt
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Word forms
- Plural
- jailbreaks
- Third person singular
- jailbreaks
- Past tense
- jailbroke, jailbroken
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
News crews swarmed the prison after the _____.
Etymology
A straightforward compound of "jail" and "break," originally meaning a literal prison escape before being extended to devices and, more recently, AI systems.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for jailbreak
See all rhymes for jailbreak →Frequently asked questions
What does “jailbreak” mean?
The word “jailbreak” means an escape from prison. In plain terms, breaking free of confinement or restrictions — whether a real prison, a locked-down phone, or an AI's safety rules.
How do you pronounce “jailbreak”?
“Jailbreak” is pronounced JAYL-brayk (/ˈd͡ʒeɪlˌbɹeɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “jailbreak” in a sentence?
Here is “jailbreak” used in a sentence: “News crews swarmed the prison after the jailbreak.”
What part of speech is “jailbreak”?
Depending on how it is used, “jailbreak” can be a noun and a verb.
How many meanings does “jailbreak” have?
“Jailbreak” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an escape from prison.
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