Word
jailhouse
Phoneticsjail·house, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈdʒeɪɫˌhaʊs/
UK/dʒˈeɪlhaʊs/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a small local prison where the police keep people while they wait for trial or serve a short punishment.
n. a building where authorities confine people awaiting trial or serving short sentences, essentially synonymous with jail.
Examples
“The old jailhouse sits next to the town hall.”
“The sheriff locks the suspect in the county jailhouse overnight until the morning hearing.”
“The abandoned jailhouse, with its rusted bars and peeling paint, still reminds visitors of harsher punishments from a century ago.”
Examples
simple
“The old jailhouse sits next to the town hall.”
contextual
“The sheriff locks the suspect in the county jailhouse overnight until the morning hearing.”
complex
“The abandoned jailhouse, with its rusted bars and peeling paint, still reminds visitors of harsher punishments from a century ago.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “jailhouse” in context.
Verb
01. enter jailhouse
“He entered the jailhouse to visit his younger brother.”
verb + noun
02. land in jailhouse
“One bad fight could land you in the local jailhouse.”
verb + prep + noun
03. leave jailhouse
“She left the jailhouse after paying a small fine.”
verb + noun
04. run jailhouse
“The sheriff runs the small jailhouse with only five officers.”
verb + noun
Adjective
05. county jailhouse
“The suspect was transferred to the county jailhouse outside town.”
adj + noun
06. crowded jailhouse
“The crowded jailhouse held twice as many prisoners as it should.”
adj + noun
07. local jailhouse
“He spent two nights in the local jailhouse waiting for his court hearing.”
adj + noun
08. old jailhouse
“The town turned the old jailhouse into a small history museum.”
adj + noun
Noun
09. cell in jailhouse
“Each cell in the jailhouse holds up to four people.”
noun + prep + noun
10. night in jailhouse
“A night in the jailhouse was enough to scare him straight.”
noun + prep + noun
11. escape from the county jailhouse
“Two prisoners tried to escape from the county jailhouse last year.”
12. land in the local jailhouse
“After the bar fight, he landed in the local jailhouse.”
Real-World Examples
“Justices are permitted to use informal venues – including their own living rooms, pool houses, businesses or even an old jailhouse – to hold court.” Synonyms
Word family
NOUN
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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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