# gaol

CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gaol
Updated: 2026-05-20

## Definition

a prison. This is a word you mostly see in British English or in old stories.

For teachers: a prison or place of detention. Primarily used in British English and often carries a literary or historical tone.

## Examples

- The prisoner was sent to gaol for three years.
- The old stone gaol stood on the edge of the town, a reminder of the city's history of crime.
- The novel opens with the protagonist's arrival at the local gaol, where the cold stone walls and distant cries of the other inmates set the tone for the story's bleak atmosphere.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.