1. A correctional institution used to detain persons who are in the lawful custody of the government (either accused persons awaiting trial or convicted persons serving a sentence)
   "The old prison was converted into a museum";
   - jail, jailhouse, gaol [Brit], clink [informal], slammer [informal], poky [informal], pokey [informal], calaboose [US, Austral, informal]
    
2. A correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment
   "The convicted felon was sentenced to five years in prison"; "The old prison house was converted into a museum";
   - prison house
    
3. A prisonlike situation; a place of seeming confinement
   "His mundane job felt like a prison"; "The oppressive regime turned the country into a prison house for its citizens";
   - prison house

1. (law) lock up or confine, in or as in a jail
   "The authorities prisoned the criminals";
   - imprison, incarcerate, lag, immure, put behind bars, jail, jug [N. Amer, informal], gaol [Brit], put away, remand
    
2. Confine as if in a prison
   "Grief prisoned her in her room for days";
   - imprison

Derived forms: prisons, prisoning, prisoned

Type of: confine, correctional institution, detain, situation, state of affairs

Encyclopedia: Prison