Synonyms for

Jails

Verb / dʒeɪlz / Another word for jails — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

Jails are places where people are held as punishment for breaking the law or waiting for trial.

Synonyms & similar words

putaway clink lag immure jug incarcerate slammer imprison pokey jail poky gaol remand putbehindbars jailhouse prison penitentiary lockup reformatory brig guardhouse cell cage cooler hoosegow clink

Synonyms by register

Formal

penitentiaries correctional facilities prisons detention centers

Informal

clink slammer stir hoosegow cooler

Literary

durance gaol keep

Antonyms

freedom liberty release exemption bail amnesty

Common collocations

  • federal jails
  • local jails
  • state jails
  • county jails
  • city jails
  • women's jails
  • juvenile jails
  • maximum security jails

Word family

noun jail
verb jail
adjective jailed

Usage note

Jails are typically for shorter-term confinement, often awaiting trial or serving sentences up to a year, distinguishing them from prisons. The word 'jail' can also be used as a verb.

Example sentences

  1. The thief was caught and sent to jail.
  2. The jail was overcrowded with prisoners.
  3. The guard locked the jail cell.
  4. The jail is located downtown.
  5. She visited her friend in jail.

Quotes

  • I was in jail four and a half years. When I came out I was grown up. - Huey Newton
  • There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written, or badly written. That is all. - Oscar Wilde
  • It's better to be a lion for a day than a sheep all your life. - Elizabeth Kenny

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