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Definition of incarcerate

incarcerate

/ɪnˈkɑːrsəreɪt/
in · car · cer · ate
Adjective:incarcerated
•
Past Simple:incarcerated
•
Past Participle:incarcerated
•
Present Participle:incarcerating
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incarcerate Lexical Profile

incarcerate Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To imprison or confine someone in a jail, prison, or similar correctional facility.

Example

"The state decided to incarcerate the convicted fraudster for five years."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for incarcerate
Antonyms
View all antonyms for incarcerate

• Rhymes for incarcerate

• Nearby Words

incapacitation
incapacity
incapillo
incarcerate
incarceration
incarcerator
incarnate

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the 16th century from Medieval Latin incarceratus, the past participle of incarcerare ('to imprison'), formed from the prefix in- ('into') and Latin carcer ('prison, enclosed space').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Incarcerate. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/incarcerate
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