incarcerated

word · lemma: incarcerate

Definition

To be kept in prison as punishment for a crime, or detained in a place as a form of restraint.

Usage & Nuances

Formal term, mostly for legal/prison contexts. Used for people officially put in jail. Synonyms: 'imprisoned,' 'detained.' Common in news, law, and sociology. Not usually used for metaphorical situations.

Example Sentences

He was incarcerated for ten years.

basic

Many incarcerated people hope for a second chance.

basic

She was wrongly incarcerated.

basic

He spent most of his youth incarcerated, but turned his life around.

natural

After being incarcerated, he struggled to adjust to normal life again.

natural

Thousands remain incarcerated while awaiting trial.

natural