Word
inmate
Meanings
a person who is kept in a prison
a person who lives in an institution such as a detention center or similar facility
Definition
An inmate is a person who is kept in a prison or similar institution.
An inmate is someone who is confined in an institution, most commonly a prison. The word is often used in news reports and official contexts to refer to people serving sentences or being held in custody. It can also refer more generally to a person living in an institution, but this use is less common today.
Examples
- The journalist interviewed an inmate who described how daily routines shaped his outlook.
- As a volunteer, I spoke with an inmate about the books available in the small library.
- They moved the inmate to a different unit after tensions rose in the corridor.
- She met an inmate through a rehabilitation program and found his reflections unexpectedly thoughtful.
Common mistake
Learners sometimes use inmate for any hospital patient, but in modern English it usually refers to someone confined in a prison or similar institution.
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