Word
inmate
Phoneticsin·mate, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɪnˌmeɪt/
UK/ˈɪnmeɪt/
Definitions
01prisoner
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Law
n. someone who is kept in a prison or a hospital for people with mental illnesses.
n. a person confined to a prison, reformatory, or psychiatric institution.
“The inmates are allowed to spend two hours outside in the yard every day.”
“The new warden implemented a series of vocational programmes designed to help inmates develop marketable skills before their release.”
Usage
The term is most frequently applied to those in correctional facilities.
Teaching tip
While historically used for hospital patients, modern usage almost exclusively refers to people in prison. Using it for a hospital patient today might sound insensitive or imply they are being held against their will.
02fellow resident
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Archaic · Literary
n. a person who lives in the same house or building as you.
n. a person who shares a residence with others, such as a lodger or a student in a dormitory.
“The old house was large enough to accommodate several inmates comfortably.”
“In the nineteenth-century novel, the protagonist describes the various inmates of the boarding house with a mixture of affection and pity.”
Usage
In modern English, 'housemate' or 'resident' has replaced this sense.
Teaching tip
This sense is rare in modern speech and is primarily found in older literature. Students should be careful not to use it in daily life, as it now carries a strong connotation of being in prison.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “inmate” in context.
Verb
01. house the inmates in cells
“The facility was designed to house the inmates in high-security cells.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
02. rehabilitate the inmates
“The new program aims to rehabilitate the inmates through vocational training and counseling.”
verb + noun
03. release the inmate from prison
“The authorities decided to release the inmate from prison after he served two-thirds of his sentence.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
Adjective
04. fellow inmate
“He developed a close friendship with a fellow inmate during his time in the psychiatric ward.”
adj + noun
05. unruly inmate
“The guards had to intervene when an unruly inmate started a fight in the cafeteria.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. inmate population
“The government is seeking ways to reduce the growing inmate population in state penitentiaries.”
noun + noun
07. rights of the inmate
“Legal advocates argue that the basic human rights of the inmate must be protected regardless of their crime.”
noun + of + noun
Real-World Examples
“Then there are questions about what’d happen after inmates in Kosovo finish their sentence (Reform would put a lifetime ban on returning to the U.K.).” “Inmates say it is "rewarding" to create artwork and sell it online with the help of a charity.” Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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