# prison

/ˈpɹɪzən/ (US) · /pɹˈɪzən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/prison
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 2. the state of being locked up

noun · CEFR B2

the time or state of being kept in a prison.

For teachers: the condition or state of being incarcerated; confinement within a penal institution.

- He was sentenced to ten years in prison for his role in the robbery.
- The reform advocate argued that long-term prison does little to rehabilitate offenders without accompanying educational programmes.

### 3. a restrictive place

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a place or situation that makes you feel trapped or limited.

For teachers: a place, situation, or relationship that is perceived as restrictive, oppressive, or inescapable.

- Without any friends or hobbies, the small town felt like a prison to her.
- For the creative spirit, a repetitive desk job in a windowless office can quickly become a psychological prison.

### 4. to lock someone up

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary · Formal

to put someone in a prison or to keep them somewhere they cannot leave.

For teachers: to confine or shut up in a prison; to deprive of liberty.

- The king decided to prison his enemies in the highest tower of the castle.
- The regime sought to prison all dissenting voices, hoping that isolation would silence the growing movement for reform.

Usage: This verb is transitive and requires a direct object.

## Examples

- 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.

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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.