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Jail: meaning, definitions and examples

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jail

 

[dʒeɪl ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

place

A place where criminals are held as a punishment for their crimes. Jails are usually run by the government and inmates are kept in cells.

Synonyms

lockup, penitentiary, prison.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
jail

Jail is typically used to refer to a place where people are held while they are awaiting trial or serving short sentences. It is usually managed by local authorities.

  • He was taken to jail for the night after the arrest
  • The suspect is currently in jail awaiting his trial

Examples of usage

  • John was sent to jail for stealing a car.
  • She visited her brother in jail.
  • The jail was overcrowded with prisoners.
  • The jailbreak was carefully planned by the inmates.
  • The new jail facilities were designed to be more secure.
Context #2 | Verb

action

To imprison someone in a jail as a punishment for a crime they have committed.

Synonyms

detain, imprison, incarcerate.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
jail

Used in everyday conversation to refer to a place where people are held while they await trial or serve short sentences.

  • He was sentenced to six months in jail.
  • She spent a night in jail for drunken behavior.
imprison

Often used in formal contexts to describe the action of confining someone in prison for a longer period as punishment after being found guilty of a crime.

  • He was imprisoned for ten years for his crimes.
  • The activist was imprisoned for her protests.
incarcerate

Used in formal and legal contexts, often implying a longer term of confinement in a correctional facility.

  • The government seeks to incarcerate those involved in the scandal.
  • Many non-violent offenders are incarcerated due to strict laws.
detain

Typically used in a legal or formal context to describe the act of keeping someone in custody without necessarily implying punishment.

  • The police will detain you for questioning.
  • They were detained at the airport for hours.

Examples of usage

  • The judge decided to jail the criminal for 10 years.
  • If you commit the crime, you will be jailed.
  • He was jailed for his involvement in the robbery.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The word originates from the Old French 'jaiole', meaning 'cage', reflecting the idea of confinement.
  • In Latin, the word 'cavea' referred to a cage or an enclosure, which is related to the concept of a jail.

History

  • The earliest prisons, dating back to ancient Egypt, were often used to detain debtors or political adversaries.
  • In medieval Europe, jails were often kept in castle dungeons, where conditions were harsh and unsanitary.

Cultural Representations

  • Jails are often depicted in films and literature, symbolizing punishment and redemption, such as in stories like 'Les Misérables'.
  • Famous songs, like Johnny Cash's 'Folsom Prison Blues', portray poignant experiences and feelings of confinement.

Psychology

  • Research shows that incarceration can have lasting psychological effects, including trauma and difficulty reintegrating into society.
  • Programs designed within jails to promote education and rehabilitation aim to reduce recidivism and aid mental health.

Modern Developments

  • In many countries, the move towards rehabilitation over punishment is changing how jails operate, focusing on reducing crime rather than just containment.
  • Technology, like electronic monitoring systems, is being introduced as alternatives to traditional incarceration.

Translations

Translations of the word "jail" in other languages:

🇵🇹 prisão

🇮🇳 जेल

🇩🇪 Gefängnis

🇮🇩 penjara

🇺🇦 в'язниця

🇵🇱 więzienie

🇯🇵 刑務所 (けいむしょ)

🇫🇷 prison

🇪🇸 cárcel

🇹🇷 hapishane

🇰🇷 감옥 (gamok)

🇸🇦 سجن

🇨🇿 vězení

🇸🇰 väzenie

🇨🇳 监狱 (jiānyù)

🇸🇮 zapori

🇮🇸 fangelsi

🇰🇿 түрме

🇬🇪 ციხე (tsikhe)

🇦🇿 həbsxana

🇲🇽 cárcel

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #4,969, this word represents useful upper-intermediate vocabulary. Understanding and using it will help you express more complex ideas effectively.