imprisoned

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "imprisoned" is correct and widely used in written English.
It is mostly used to describe someone who has been confined or detained as a punishment for a crime. Example sentence: The criminal was imprisoned for ten years for stealing from the bank.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Political competition is nonexistent, much of the opposition has been driven abroad or imprisoned, the internet and media are heavily censored and reports of arbitrary imprisonment and torture are frequent.

The Guardian

I have on file cases of Britons recently imprisoned for crimes as relatively mild as abusive tweeting, poll-rigging, Boat Race obstructing, cathedral desecrating, job-application falsifying, expenses fiddling, urinatingon a war memorial, speeding-point switching, licence fee non-paying, and googling in court.

The Guardian - Opinion

Around 500 politicians, officials and businessmen were imprisoned in a populist campaign against waste and corruption.

The Guardian

Inspired by these old, dark tales I piled on the heartache, not an easy sell for a children's story (the heroine, a little girl, is eventually imprisoned and comes to a terrible end).

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Months before his death, Abdullah may have been alarmed by sensational stories about his daughters allegedly imprisoned in the palace.

The Guardian

Svetlana Bakhmina, imprisoned for her part in the "Yukos affair" that saw oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky being sent to a colony in the Russian Far East, was taken to Mordovia.

The Guardian

At least, unlike five other imprisoned Al-Jazeera staff, she is outside Egypt.

The Guardian

Her 15-year-old niece was raped in front of her and she was imprisoned.

The Guardian

The plan to build a 40,000 all-seater stadium on the site where some of the world's most dangerous paramilitaries were once imprisoned has been one of the most controversial issues to dog the power-sharing executive in recent years.

The Guardian

He made it clear that he was ready to challenge the Malaysian political elite that sacked and imprisoned him.

The Guardian

Michael Attenborough says Cameron can no longer ignore a brutal regime that arrests people for attending a play, has imprisoned a theatre director for 15 hours with no toilet, and has threatened to bulldoze a man's home for allowing blacklisted actors to perform.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "imprisoned" when you want to emphasize the act of being confined in a prison or similar institution as a form of punishment or detention. It carries a stronger connotation of formal legal action than alternatives like "detained".

Common error

Avoid using "imprisoned" interchangeably with words like "detained" or "confined" if the context does not specifically involve a prison or legal sentence. "Detained" suggests a temporary hold, while "confined" simply means restricted movement. Ensure the situation warrants the implication of formal incarceration.

Linguistic Context

The term "imprisoned" functions primarily as a past participle or adjective, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe someone who has been confined in a prison or similar institution. Ludwig AI confirms this aligns with standard English grammar.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "imprisoned" functions as a past participle or adjective, primarily used to describe someone confined within a prison due to legal or judicial actions. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is grammatically correct. The word appears most frequently in News & Media, indicating its relevance in reporting on legal and political matters. Alternatives include "incarcerated" and "jailed", each carrying slight nuances in formality and duration of confinement. When using "imprisoned", ensure the context involves formal incarceration, distinguishing it from similar terms like "detained" or "confined" that may imply temporary or less formal restrictions. In summary, "imprisoned" effectively conveys the act and state of being held in prison as a result of legal proceedings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

incarcerated

A more formal synonym for "imprisoned", often used in legal or official contexts.

jailed

A more casual synonym for "imprisoned", often implying a shorter sentence.

locked up

An informal way to say someone is put in prison.

confined

Focuses on the restriction of movement, without necessarily implying a crime.

put behind bars

A more idiomatic expression for being sent to prison.

detained

Suggests a temporary holding, often for investigation or questioning.

held captive

Implies being held against one's will, often in a non-legal context.

taken into custody

Refers to the action of being arrested and held by law enforcement.

interned

Often refers to the confinement of people during wartime or political unrest.

immured

Suggests being walled in or confined, often in a metaphorical sense.

FAQs

How is "imprisoned" typically used in a sentence?

"Imprisoned" is generally used as a past participle or adjective, often to describe someone who has been confined in a prison. For example, "The activist was imprisoned for protesting."

What are some alternatives to using "imprisoned"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "incarcerated", "jailed", or "confined". Each word carries slightly different connotations regarding the length and formality of the confinement.

What's the difference between "imprisoned" and "detained"?

"Imprisoned" typically implies a longer-term confinement as a result of a legal sentence, whereas "detained" usually suggests a temporary holding for investigation or questioning. The former implies a conviction; the latter does not.

Is it correct to say someone was "imprisoned at home"?

While technically possible in a metaphorical sense, "imprisoned" usually refers to confinement in a formal institution. If someone is restricted to their home, consider using "confined" or "under house arrest" for greater accuracy.