What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
carcerate
Example
The criminal was carcerated for his involvement in the robbery. [carcerated: past tense]
Example
The government decided to carcerate the protesters to maintain public order. [carcerate: verb]
incarcerate
Example
The judge decided to incarcerate the convicted felon for his crimes. [incarcerate: verb]
Example
The high crime rate led to an increase in the number of incarcerated individuals. [incarcerated: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Incarcerate is more commonly used than carcerate in everyday language and legal contexts. It is the preferred term when discussing imprisonment or confinement.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between carcerate and incarcerate?
While carcerate is less formal and less commonly used, incarcerate is more formal and widely used in legal and official contexts. It is the more appropriate choice when discussing legal matters or official documents.
