jailbirds

noun

plural of jailbird
as in prisoners
a person convicted as a criminal and serving a prison sentence had spent most of his sorry life as a jailbird in hoosegows across the South

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of jailbirds But these jailbirds aren’t using their own fingers to fire off missives or create clones. — Andrew Zucker, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jailbirds
  1. prisoners
  2. convicts
  3. inmates
Noun
  • More recently, the outgoing governor — who is expected to run for president in 2028 — has mulled commuting all 536 state death row prisoners’ sentences to life without parole.
    — Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Hubbard was the last remaining American designated as wrongfully detained, although advocates say that label should be applied to other prisoners.
    — Dasha Litvinova, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of prisoners
Noun
  • After a career spent playing convicts and criminals, the opportunity was appealing to Trejo.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Aiming to make the race to succeed Tillis a referendum on crime, Republicans have run ads claiming that Democratic nominee Roy Cooper went easy on convicts during his two terms in the governor’s mansion.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of convicts
Noun
  • Other proposals would increase the opportunity for inmates to earn good behavior and vocational training, also good ideas.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Several violent attacks between inmates and by employees have been reported in recent years at Northwest Correctional Complex.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of inmates

Browse Nearby Words

jailbird
jailbirds
jailbreak
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Cite this Entry

“Jailbirds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jailbirds. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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