a correctional institution used to detain persons who are in the lawful custody of the government (either accused persons awaiting trial or convicted persons serving a sentence)
"The judge sentenced the defendant to six months in jail for stealing from the convenience store."
A place or institution for the confinement of persons held in lawful custody or detention, especially for minor offenses or with reference to some future judicial proceeding.
"After being released from jail on bail, he returned home waiting for his court date regarding the traffic violation."
In plain English: A jail is a small building where people are locked up for breaking minor laws until their court case ends.
"The suspect was sentenced to ten years in jail for armed robbery."
Usage: Use "jail" specifically for short-term incarceration by local authorities, whereas reserve "prison" for long sentences imposed by state governments. Avoid using it as a verb when referring to the act of detaining someone unless you mean placing them in that specific facility.
lock up or confine, in or as in a jail
"The suspects were imprisoned without trial"
"the murderer was incarcerated for the rest of his life"
To imprison.
"The judge sentenced him to jail for five years after he was found guilty of theft."
The word "jail" comes from the Medieval Latin gabiola, meaning a small cage or cell, which entered English through French and replaced an earlier native term. It is related to the modern words "cage" and "cajole."