inmate

noun

in·​mate ˈin-ˌmāt How to pronounce inmate (audio)
Synonyms of inmatenext
: any of a group occupying a single place of residence
especially : a person confined (as in a prison or hospital)

Examples of inmate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Eight are at least 80 years old, including the longest-serving death row inmate from South Florida, James Franklin Rose, 80, from Pompano Beach. — Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026 In it, Stanford University psychologist Philip Zimbardo had 24 male college students randomly assigned to play guards or inmates in a mock prison to see how power structures could affect the behavior of ordinary people. — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 29 Oct. 2026 Staffers called 911 and began life-saving procedures on the inmate victim as he was taken to the prison's triage area, CDCR said. — Senior Editor, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026 The prison Morley escaped from has had several violent attacks between inmates and by employees in recent years. — ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inmate

Word History

First Known Use

1609, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of inmate was in 1609

Rhymes for inmate

See All Rhymes for inmate

Browse Nearby Words

inmarry
inmate
inmeats
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Cite this Entry

“Inmate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inmate. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

inmate

noun
in·​mate ˈin-ˌmāt How to pronounce inmate (audio)
: a member of a group living in a single residence
especially : a person kept in an institution (as a hospital or prison)

Medical Definition

inmate

noun
in·​mate ˈin-ˌmāt How to pronounce inmate (audio)
: one of a group occupying a single place of residence
especially : a person confined (as in a psychiatric hospital) especially for a long time

Legal Definition

inmate

noun
in·​mate ˈin-ˌmāt How to pronounce inmate (audio)
: a person confined in an institution (as a prison or hospital)

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