jail
Elementary (A2)
IPA: /dʒeɪl/
KK: /dʒeɪl/
noun
Definition
A building where people are kept as punishment for a crime or while they are waiting for a trial.
Example
After the trial, he was sent to jail for two years.
Conversation
Did you hear about that guy who just got out of jail?
Yeah, I read about it! What did he do this time?
Apparently, he was in there for a couple of months for shoplifting.
Wow, that's crazy! I hope he learned his lesson.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
prison
cell
detention
Antonyms
freedom
liberty
release
transitive verb
Definition
To put someone in a place where they are kept as a punishment for a crime.
Example
The police decided to jail the suspect until the trial.
Tense Forms
Past: jailed
Past Participle: jailed
Conversation
Did you hear about that guy who tried to rob the bank?
Yeah, I heard they jailed him right away.
I can't believe how quickly they caught him!
Root Explanation
Jail → The word 'jail' originates from Old French 'jaiole' (meaning a cage or a prison), which itself comes from Latin 'caveola' (meaning a small cage). The term refers to a place where individuals are confined or imprisoned.
Memory Tip
Imagine a small 'cage' ('caveola') where people are kept confined — that's why 'jail' means a place of confinement.
Visually Confused Words
ail
rejail
jezail
enjail