DictionaryAI

incarcerate

Sayin-KAR-suh-raytUS/ɪnˈkɑɹ.səˌɹeɪt/UK/ɪnˈkɑː.səˌɹeɪt/

Formsincarcerates, incarcerating, incarcerated

3 meanings of incarcerate

Practice

  1. 1
    verbUStransitive
    To put someone in prison, especially for breaking the law.

    The judge can incarcerate anyone who refuses to pay the fine.

    The state incarcerated him for three years after the robbery.

    Similarimprison, jail

    Oppositerelease, free

    Note
  2. 2
    verbtransitive
    To shut someone or something inside a place so they cannot get out.

    Heavy snow can incarcerate a whole village for days.

    The teacher joked that the rain had incarcerated the class indoors.

    Similarconfine, trap, imprison, enclose

    Oppositefree, release

  3. 3
    adjectiveobsolete
    Kept in prison or shut inside a place and not able to leave.

    The story says the knight stayed incarcerate in the tower for ten years.

    Tane and incarcerat, kepit heir an there
    1583, Preface to The Legend of the Bishop St Androis LyfeHere, incarcerat means put in prison or shut in.
    Note

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Origin

It comes from Latin words meaning "in" and "a prison," so it means to put someone in prison.