inmate
gb/ˈɪnmˌeɪt/ us/ˈɪnmˌeɪt/
B2
English
~ 5900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
entity
1
person held in a prison
A person who lives in a prison or jail because they have been accused of or have committed a crime.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is an inmate at [a prison]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "inmate" can mean any person who lives in a place, like a roommate or housemate. In modern English, "inmate" is used mainly for people in prisons or similar secure institutions. Also, remember to use the article "an" before it: say "an inmate," not "a inmate."
Synonyms
prisoner (The most common general term; can refer to anyone deprived of liberty, not only in formal prisons.)
|
convict (Focuses on the fact that the person has been found guilty; often slightly more negative or legal-sounding than "inmate.")
Antonyms
guard (A guard works at a prison and is free, which contrasts with an inmate who is confined there.)
Collocations
prison inmate
|jail inmate
|fellow inmates
|death row inmate
|inmate population
|inmate abuse
Themes
crime
|law
|society
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The prison currently houses more than 800 inmates.
- She works as a teacher, offering classes to inmates at the county jail.
- The documentary follows the daily lives of three inmates serving life sentences.
- New rules were introduced after an inmate was seriously injured in a fight.
Learner examples
- The inmates eat breakfast at six in the morning.
- Each inmate has a small cell with a bed and a toilet.
- Some inmates can study or work while they are in prison.
- The police caught him, and now he is an inmate in the local jail.
Noun
C1
entity
2
resident of an institution
A person who lives in a special institution, like a mental hospital, and usually cannot leave freely.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is an inmate of [an institution]
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse "inmate" for people in hospitals or care homes. In modern English, professionals usually prefer words like "patient" or "resident" in these contexts, because "inmate" can sound cold or old-fashioned. Use "inmate" mainly when the text or speaker clearly describes an institutional setting where people are kept and cannot leave freely.
Synonyms
resident (A neutral, modern term for someone who lives in a care home or similar place; it does not strongly suggest being locked in, unlike "inmate.")
|
patient (Focuses on the medical side and is often preferred in healthcare settings instead of the more institutional-sounding "inmate.")
Antonyms
staff member (Describes people who work at the institution, in contrast to inmates who live there under care or supervision.)
Collocations
mental hospital inmate
|psychiatric inmates
|asylum inmates
|inmates of the institution
|inmates of the home
Themes
health
|society
|law
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The report criticized the hospital for failing to protect its inmates from harm.
- During the 1960s, many psychiatric inmates were moved into community-based care.
- Former inmates of the institution later spoke about the harsh conditions they experienced.
- The charity works to defend the rights of inmates in long-term mental health facilities.
Learner examples
- The old hospital had more than 300 inmates in the 1950s.
- Some inmates of the mental institution stayed there for many years.
- The new rules are designed to keep the inmates safe.
- Many people say we should treat these inmates more like patients and residents.
Grammar
Dictionary form
inmate
IPA
GB/ˈɪnmˌeɪt/
US/ˈɪnmˌeɪt/
Syllables & stress
in - mate (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (in)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: inmate
- Plural: inmates
Word family
Forms
inmates
noun
Related words
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.