Incarcerate - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
To incarcerate means to imprison or confine someone in a jail or prison as a form of legal punishment. It is used when authorities detain individuals for breaking the law.
Definition:
To imprison or confine someone, typically as a legal punishment.
Synonyms:
imprison, jail, detain, confine
Part of Speech:
verb
Antonyms:
free, release
Common Collocations:
incarcerate criminals, incarcerate offenders, incarcerate indefinitely
Derivatives:
incarceration, incarcerated
Usage Tips:
Use "incarcerate" for formal contexts involving legal imprisonment; avoid for casual confinement like grounding a child.
Common Phrases:
behind bars, locked up, sent to prison
Etymology:
From Latin "incarcerare," meaning "to imprison," from "in-" (into) + "carcer" (prison).
Examples:
- 1. The judge decided to incarcerate the convicted felon for ten years.
- 2. Many countries incarcerate individuals who violate serious laws.
- 3. Overcrowded prisons struggle to properly incarcerate all inmates.
- 4. Activists argue against policies that disproportionately incarcerate minorities.