prison

PRIZ-uhn/ˈpɹɪzn̩/

3 meanings of prison

1
jailnouncountable or uncountable
A place where people are kept as punishment or while they wait for trial, or the state of being kept there.
Like being shut inside a locked place you cannot leave for a long time.
The judge sent him to prison for ten years.
Her brother spent five years in prison.
UsageSay in prison and go to prison, with no the, when you mean being locked up.
Note
2
trapping placenouncolloquialfigurativelycountable or uncountable
A place or situation that makes you feel trapped or unable to live freely.
Like a cage that holds you even though there are no real bars.
Her strict home felt like a prison.
That boring job became a prison he could not escape.
UsagePeople often say a place feels like a prison.
Similarcage, trap
3
lock upverbarchaictransitive
To lock a person up and keep them in a jail.
Similarimprison, jail, incarcerate, confine, detain
Oppositefree, release, liberate

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It comes from Old French "prison" and before that from Latin, from a verb meaning to seize or grab.

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

English prison comes from Old French prison. en.wiktionary.org
The Old French word derives from Latin, ultimately from the verb prehendō. en.wiktionary.org
The Latin verb means to seize or grab. en.wiktionary.org