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prison

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noun American English pronunciation: prison /ˈprɪz(ə)n/ 
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singularprison
pluralprisons
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Related dictionary definitions

  1. [countable/uncountable] an institution where people are kept as punishment for committing a crime. A large prison is called a penitentiary and the people who are kept there are called prisoners
    send someone to prison:

    He was sent to prison for armed robbery.

    go to prison:

    You can go to prison for that, you know.

    in prison:

    He's currently in prison for tax fraud.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of prison
    1. a.
      [uncountable] the system of keeping people in prisons as a punishment
      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of prison
    2. b.
      [uncountable] the experience of being in prison

      Has prison changed him?

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of prison
    3. c.
      [only before noun] involving prison, or relating to prison
      a prison term/sentence (=the period of time someone must stay in prison):

      She could face a ten-year prison term.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of prison

This is the American English definition of prison. View British English definition of prison.

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