What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
imprison
Example
The judge decided to imprison the criminal for ten years. [imprison: verb]
Example
The hostages were imprisoned in a small room for several days. [imprisoned: past participle]
incarcerate
Example
The court decided to incarcerate the thief for his crimes. [incarcerate: verb]
Example
The innocent man was wrongfully incarcerated for several years. [incarcerated: past participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Imprison is more commonly used than incarcerate in everyday language.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between imprison and incarcerate?
Incarcerate is more formal than imprison and is often used in legal or official contexts.
