jailer

noun

jail·​er ˈjā-lər How to pronounce jailer (audio)
variants or less commonly jailor
1
: a keeper of a jail
2
: one that restricts another's liberty as if by imprisonment

Examples of jailer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web His only diversion was to make pictures using the hard bits of grain collected from the meager gruel his jailers gave him. Adam Nossiter, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2024 Over the next several months, the pregnant woman repeatedly saw medical staff for routine visits and was put in high-observation housing where she was supposed to be checked on by jailers every 15 minutes. Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2024 He was convicted of killing two Randolph County jailers in June 2000. Katie Moore, Kansas City Star, 12 Feb. 2024 Today's top stories: → Tarrant County settles suit of man allegedly beaten by jailers, left in cell, for $200K → Family receives outpouring of love after plane crash that killed doctor, 2 sons → Fort Worth ISD health council meeting hacked with pornographic images 🚨Get free alerts when news breaks. Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Jan. 2024 In 2018, despite a history of suicidal tendencies, jailers put Jaime Martin in solitary confinement on a second story room, according to a lawsuit his mother filed in Walker County Circuit Court in 2020. al, 7 Aug. 2023 In yet another, two jailers punch a handcuffed inmate repeatedly — even after he’s fallen to the ground. Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 10 Nov. 2023 At the Inmate Reception Center, the report said, jailers weren’t properly documenting their use of a controversial restraint mechanism known as the WRAP, which encases inmates in a blanket-like device from their ankles to their shoulders. Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2023 Though the autopsy makes clear that medical staff did not check on her for at least four hours, the records don’t say whether any jailers checked on her during that time, and the Sheriff’s Department did not clarify. Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 26 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'jailer.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of jailer was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near jailer

Cite this Entry

“Jailer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jailer. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

jailer

noun
jail·​er
variants or jailor
: a keeper of a jail

Legal Definition

jailer

noun
jail·​er
: a keeper of a jail
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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