Meaning & use

jailbird

noun·Advanced

A person who is currently in jail or who has a history of being imprisoned.

See it in a sentence

The old jailbird liked to tell stories about his years behind bars.

Neighbors whispered that the new tenant was a jailbird just released last month.

A note on using this word

Jailbird is informal and often carries a joking or mildly disapproving tone rather than strict legal precision.

Words with a similar meaning

convictex-con

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