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
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Factors fueling these theories included the malfunctioning of security cameras outside his cell, the absence of a cellmate at the time of his death, and the failure of guards to perform regular checks. Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 July 2025 He was involved in a gang fight in 2019, another altercation in 2021, and then another fight with a cellmate later that same year. Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 14 June 2025 According to the motion, Kelly got a call from a prison official in North Carolina, who warned him that the government knew his attorneys had been meeting with the cellmate who provided the declaration. Christie D’zurilla, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025 Several other prisoners also become friends, including a kind cellmate who looks out for him. Anita Snow, Boston Herald, 13 June 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 23 Jul. 2025.

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