What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
prisoned
Example
He was prisoned for five years for his involvement in the robbery. [prisoned: adjective]
Example
The suspect was prisoned without bail until his trial. [prisoned: verb]
incarcerated
Example
The inmate was incarcerated for life for his violent crimes. [incarcerated: adjective]
Example
She was incarcerated in a federal prison for her involvement in the drug trafficking. [incarcerated: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Incarcerated is more commonly used than prisoned in everyday language, especially in formal contexts such as legal documents, news articles, and academic writing.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between prisoned and incarcerated?
Incarcerated is more formal than prisoned and is often used in legal and official contexts. Prisoned is less formal and is more commonly used in informal conversations or creative writing.
