jailers

Meanings

1. 1nounplural

   People in charge of guarding prisoners in a jail.

   Grammar: Plural of jailer: the jailers locked the doors.

   Patterns

   • jailers of someone

   The jailers locked the heavy doors at nightfall.

   In the old story, the prisoner befriended his jailers.

   Jailers in the small town knew every inmate by name.

2. 2nounpluralfigurative

   People or forces that keep someone trapped or controlled, used figuratively.

   Grammar: Used figuratively: fear and habit became her jailers.

   Patterns

   • jailers of someone

   Her own doubts were her harshest jailers.

   The rebels overthrew the jailers of their country's freedom.

Word forms

Common combinations

prison jailers

The prison jailers worked long shifts.

cruel jailers

The cruel jailers gave the prisoners little food.

jailers and prisoners

The film shows jailers and prisoners in daily conflict.

escape from jailers

He tried to escape from his jailers at night.

former jailers

His former jailers were put on trial.

Synonyms and how they differ

guards

Guards is the everyday modern word and is not limited to prisons, whereas jailers is more traditional.

wardens

Wardens are senior officials in charge of the entire prison, while jailers watch prisoners directly.

captors

Captors are those holding someone against their will, often outside a legal prison.

turnkeys

Turnkeys is an old-fashioned word for the officer who carried the keys.

Opposites

Word family

jailer noun

one person guarding prisoners

jail noun

a place where prisoners are held

jail verb

to put someone in prison

jailbird noun

a person who has often been in jail

Commonly confused: jailers or jailer?

Practice

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