prison - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
prison Word Meanings
- a place where criminals are kept
- a state of confinement
- a situation where one feels trapped
prison Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
prison Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ˈprɪzən/
US
/ˈprɪzən/
prison Word Etymology
From Old French 'prison' (confinement) from Latin 'prensio' (to seize). Imagine a heavy cell door closing with a loud clang, trapping someone inside, evoking a feeling of confinement.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
Hands shake as I push open a heavy door and step into a long, echoing corridor. I move along, keeping my pace steady and adjusting to the sound of metal on metal. The air tightens, a sense of being held, like every corner is waiting to tell me to stay put. In that moment the word feels alive—a place that can keep you still, a state where one feels trapped, and the feeling lingers long after I leave.
Real Context
Prison is a building where criminals are kept, a place of confinement, and in everyday speech it can also describe a state of being restrained or a situation where one feels trapped. The word comes from Old French prison, from Latin prensio, and evokes the idea of a heavy door clanging shut. In English we say 'serve a prison sentence' or 'take to prison', and we distinguish it from jail in some dialects. Learners sometimes mix 'prison' with 'jail' or use 'prison' to refer to a person rather than the place. The figurative sense as a mental or emotional confinement is common in literature and media.
Usage Reminders
- Use 'in prison' for the place of confinement.
- Say 'to serve a prison sentence' when referring to punishment.
- Refer to people inside as 'prisoners' or 'inmates'.
- Be mindful of the figurative sense: 'prison' can describe a feeling of being trapped.
- Distinguish 'jail' for shorter-term confinement in many contexts.
Common Misconceptions
- Prison always means the same as jail; they are interchangeable.
- A prisoner is the same as the prison itself.
- Prison can only refer to a building, not a state or feeling.
- The word prison has no metaphorical uses in English literature.
- All English varieties use jail and prison identically.
Thinking Differences
English distinguishes prison as a place of confinement from the broader idea of confinement and uses fixed phrases like 'to serve a prison sentence' and 'in prison'; learners often confuse it with jail or apply its figurative sense too broadly.
Learning Tips
- Learn the core collocations: in prison, prison sentence, prison guard, prisoner, inmate, prison break.
- Practice the difference between prison and jail with regional notes.
- Use the figurative sense in context (a prison of fear, a life feel like prison).
- Listen to news or documentaries about prison reform to hear natural usage.
- Memorize a few common phrases: serve a prison sentence, spend time in prison, end up in prison.
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 1: Meaning
What is the meaning of the word 'prison'?
A.Carrot
B.Happy
C.Jail
D.Running
Step 2: Usage
Which sentence uses the word 'prison' correctly?
A.The prisoner escaped from the prairies.
B.She went to the prison to buy groceries.
C.He was locked up in prison for stealing.
D.They played soccer in the prison yard.
Step 3: Similar Words
Which word is most similar to 'prison'?
A.Penitentiary
B.Home
C.School
D.Garden
Step 4: Opposite Words
What is the opposite of the word 'prison'?
A.Freedom
B.Library
C.Forest
D.Restaurant
Step 5: Mastery
Can you give an example of a real-life scenario involving confinement?
A.He was on a long walk in the park.
B.She traveled to a foreign country for an adventure.
C.They were trapped in a room with no way out.
D.The family had a picnic in the forest.
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