inmate
n. countable C1 Advanced Oxford US //ˈɪnˌmeɪt// UK //ˈɪnmeɪt// in·mate
n. a person who is kept in a prison or a mental hospital. It is a formal way to talk about someone living in a place they cannot leave.
n. a person confined to an institution such as a prison or psychiatric hospital. Often used in administrative or sociological contexts to describe the population of a correctional facility.
The inmates spend two hours outside every day.
The prison governor introduced a new vocational program to help inmates gain skills for life after their release.
Advocates for reform argue that reducing the number of inmates in overcrowded facilities is essential for maintaining basic human rights and ensuring effective rehabilitation.
Usage
Commonly used in the plural to refer to the collective population of a facility.