[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/jail/)

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# jail

noun (a jail, jails; jail); verb (jail, jails, jailed, jailing)

«jail» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A jail is a building where people are locked up as punishment for crimes or while waiting for trial. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/jail/#m1)
2. To jail someone is to put them in jail. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/jail/#m2)
3. (informal) Any place that feels like you cannot leave. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/jail/#m3)

### In the lessons

Used in stories, news and games («Go to jail» in Monopoly). Phrases: «in jail», «go to jail», «jail time», «jailed for». It tells the reader someone is being punished or held.

### Examples

- The thief was sent to jail. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/jail/#x1)
- In the board game, you land on «Go to jail». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/jail/#x2)
- He was jailed for stealing cars. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/jail/#x3)
- The old jail is now a museum. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/jail/#x4)
- The prisoners escaped from jail. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/jail/#x5)
- Being stuck indoors all day felt like jail. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/jail/#x6)
- He tried to protest, but the two officers clapped their paws on his mouth and hustled him away to jail. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/jail/#x7)

### Note

UK also spells it «gaol» (old-fashioned), same sound. Similar: «prison». No article in «go to jail», «in jail». Jailer = the guard.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «jail» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/jail/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«jail» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/jail.html) on Mova free.