cellmate

noun

cell·​mate ˈsel-ˌmāt How to pronounce cellmate (audio)
variants or less commonly cell mate
plural cellmates also cell mates
: a person who shares a prison cell with another prisoner
When his cellmates learned that his bond had been set at $1 million (and bail at $500,000), they broke into laughter and shook their heads in disbelief.Richard Behar
Within a week, guards came by at night and told me to get ready. … I said goodbye to my cellmates and gathered my things …Clare Morgana Gillis

Examples of cellmate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Loading your audio article DUBLIN — A man has been sentenced to six years in prison for killing his cellmate at Santa Rita Jail during a fight that a neighboring inmate later told police was very loud and lasted 30 minutes, yet went unchecked by guards, court records show. Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2025 In 2022, Reyes allegedly used a shank to try to kill his cellmate at the Cook County Jail, State’s Attorney O’Neill Burke said at the news conference. Laura Barcella, People.com, 28 Feb. 2025 While in custody, Reyes also tried to kill his cellmate with a shank, Burke said. Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025 While in custody, Reyes also allegedly tried to kill his cellmate with a shank, O’Neill Burke said. Rebekah Riess, CNN, 27 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cellmate

Word History

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cellmate was in 1839

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Cite this Entry

“Cellmate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cellmate. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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