prison

A place or institution where people are held against their will, in the US especially for long-term confinement, as of those convicted of serious crimes or otherwise considered undesirable by the government.countableuncountable

• The cold stone walls of the prison had stood for over a century.

Confinement in prison (sense 1).uncountable

• Prison was a harrowing experience for him.

Any restrictive environment, such as a harsh academy or home.colloquialcountablefiguratively

• The academy was a prison for many of its students because of its strict teachers.

To imprison.transitive