A2noun1K

Prison

UK /["/ˈprɪzn/"]/US /["/ˈprɪzn/"]/

Definition

a building where people are kept as a punishment for a crime they have committed, or while they are waiting for trial

In simple words: A place where people are kept when they break the law.

Examples

  • He was sentenced to five years in prison for theft.
  • She visited her friend in prison every month.
  • The prison was built in the 1800s and is now a museum.
  • After the trial, the judge decided to send him to prison.
  • He drew a picture of a prison to express his feelings of being trapped.

Usage notes

Used in both formal and informal contexts. Suitable for discussions about law, crime, or punishment. Avoid using in light-hearted contexts or jokes.

Grammar pattern

standalone noun

Memory hint

Think of a 'prison' as a 'prisoner-in'.

Collocations

  • local
  • federal
  • overcrowded
  • go to
  • put somebody in
  • send somebody to
  • sentence
  • term
  • cell
  • at a/​the prison
  • in (a/​the) prison
  • local
  • federal
  • overcrowded
  • go to
  • put somebody in
  • send somebody to
  • sentence
  • term
  • cell
  • at a/​the prison
  • in (a/​the) prison

Synonyms

  • jail

Antonyms

  • freedom
  • liberty

Common mistakes

  • 'Prisoner' is not the same as 'prison' - one is a person, the other is a place.
  • Confusing 'jail' vs 'prison'. Jail is for short-term holding; prison is for long-term sentences.
  • Using 'prisons' as a singular term incorrectly when referring to a single location.