Jail
/dʒeɪl/
Definitions
2 meaningsA place where people are kept as punishment for crimes.
/dʒeɪl/
A place of confinement for lawbreakers.
The police took the thief to jail.
💡 Simply: Think of jail like a timeout for grown-ups who break the rules. Instead of sitting in a corner, they stay in a building until they've learned their lesson.
👶 For kids: Jail is like a big room where people who did something bad have to stay.
More Examples
He spent a year in jail for his crime.
The jail was overcrowded and poorly maintained.
How It's Used
"The suspect was held in jail pending trial."
"The news reported on the overcrowding in the local jail."
To put someone in jail; to imprison.
/dʒeɪl/
To put or confine in jail.
The judge decided to jail the criminal.
💡 Simply: To jail someone is like sending them to that timeout place we talked about. The authorities put people there when they've broken the law.
👶 For kids: To jail means to put someone in the big room for people who did something wrong.
More Examples
The police jailed him after he refused to pay a fine.
The rioters were jailed by the police.
How It's Used
"The police jailed the suspect for theft."
"Authorities jailed the protestors."
Idioms & expressions
in jail
Being held in a jail or prison.
"He's in jail for drunk driving."
behind bars
Imprisoned
"He spent ten years behind bars."
From Old French *jaiole* (prison, cage), from Late Latin *caveola* (small cave), a diminutive of *cava* (cave).
The word 'jail' has been used since the 13th century, evolving from a medieval term for a place of confinement.
Memory tip
Imagine a cage - that's where people are kept in jail.
Word Origin
"small cave (diminutive of cave)"