What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
imprisoned
Example
He was imprisoned for five years for his involvement in the robbery. [imprisoned: adjective]
Example
The hostages were imprisoned in a small room for weeks before they were rescued. [imprisoned: verb]
incarcerated
Example
He was incarcerated for five years for his involvement in the robbery. [incarcerated: adjective]
Example
The protesters were arrested and incarcerated for violating the curfew. [incarcerated: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Both words are used with similar frequency in written English, but incarcerated is more common in spoken English.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between imprisoned and incarcerated?
Incarcerated is considered more formal than imprisoned.
