What does incarcerate mean?
Incarcerate is a formal verb meaning to put a person in prison or confine them in a prison-like place. It is especially associated with the legal punishment of imprisonment, though writers also use it figuratively or in political and historical contexts to describe the confinement of people by a state, institution, or other authority. The related noun incarceration refers both to the act of imprisoning someone and to the condition or period of being imprisoned. In everyday conversation, imprison or jail is usually more direct, while incarcerate can sound technical, legal, or deliberately formal. The word is useful when precision is important because it distinguishes imprisonment itself from the more general idea of merely holding or restricting someone.
verbTo put someone in prison, especially as a punishment or after a criminal conviction. It can also mean to confine someone in a prison or similarly restrictive place.
- To put someone in prison or subject someone to confinement in a prison or prison-like place.
"The court sentenced him to five years in prison, effectively incarcerating him for the remainder of the decade."
"The authorities incarcerated the suspect while further investigating the case."
"The novel describes a society in which dissenters are incarcerated without trial."
Incarcerate comes from Latin in- (“into”) and carcer (“prison”), so its literal meaning is “to put into prison.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does incarcerate come from?
Incarcerate derives from the Latin incarcerare, formed from in- (“into”) and carcer (“prison”). The English word entered use during the 16th century, initially in legal contexts. Its related English forms, including incarceration and carceral, continue to reflect the same Latin root.
Related word forms
How incarcerate is actually used
This is a formal term. It most often refers to imprisonment by a legal authority, but can be used more broadly for deliberate confinement in a restrictive or oppressive place.
Easily confused with incarcerate
Incarcerate means to imprison or confine someone, whereas incarnate means to give a particular form or embodiment to something.