prison
n. C / Un. a building where people are kept as a punishment for a crime they committed. You go there if a judge decides you must stay away from society for a while.
n. a secure facility where individuals are legally held as a punishment for a crime or while awaiting trial. Often used without an article when referring to the institution or the state of being incarcerated.
The thief spent three years in prison.
After the trial, the judge sentenced the man to ten years in a high-security prison.
Sociologists often debate whether the primary function of prison should be the punishment of the offender or the successful rehabilitation of the individual back into the community.
From Middle English prisoun, prison, from Old English prisūn, a borrowing from Old French prison, from Latin prehensiōnem, accusative singular of prehensiō, from the verb prehendō. Doublet of prehension.
When used to describe the state of being a prisoner, it is uncountable and used without 'the' (e.g., 'he is in prison'). When referring to the physical building, it is countable.
He went to the prison for his crimes.He went to prison for his crimes.When referring to being incarcerated as a prisoner, the definite article 'the' is omitted; 'the prison' refers only to the specific building.