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Meaning & use

jailing

verb, noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈdʒeɪlɪŋ/
US/ˈdʒeɪlɪŋ/

“jailing” is a form of “jail”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.

Meanings

  1. verbtransitive

    Putting someone in prison as a punishment or while they wait for trial.

    Grammar: -ing form of jail, takes an object: the judge is jailing the thief.

    Patterns

    • jailing someone for something
    • jailing someone for a period

    The judge is jailing him for six months for fraud.

    Jailing minor offenders can cost more than other penalties.

    Police were accused of jailing protesters without charge.

  2. nouncountable

    The act or fact of sending a person to prison, or a prison sentence.

    Grammar: Often appears with of or for: the jailing of the leader.

    Patterns

    • the jailing of someone
    • a jailing for something

    The jailing of the former mayor surprised the town.

    His jailing caused protests outside the courthouse.

    The newspaper reported the jailing of two activists.

Word forms

base formjail
third person singularjails
past tensejailed
past participlejailed

Common combinations

jailing of
The jailing of the editor drew criticism.
risk jailing
Reckless drivers risk jailing.
jailing for life
The court is jailing him for life.
jailing a suspect
Police are jailing a suspect after the robbery.
wrongful jailing
The man sued over his wrongful jailing.

Synonyms and how they differ

imprisoning
Imprisoning is slightly more formal and can describe any confinement, while jailing is plainer.
locking up
Locking up is informal and more vivid than jailing.
incarcerating
Incarcerating is formal and used in official or academic writing.
detaining
Detaining is holding someone temporarily without a sentence, unlike jailing as punishment.

Opposites

freeingreleasing

Word family

jail noun
a place where prisoners are kept
jail verb
to put someone in prison
jailer noun
a person who guards prisoners
jailbreak noun
an escape from jail

Commonly confused: jailing or jelling?

jailing vs jelling

Jelling means becoming firm like jelly or coming together, and it is unrelated to prison.

Practice

The judge is considering jailing the driver ____ three months.

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