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.
The Department of Correction told state police the inmate dumped his cellmate’s body in the common area before confessing. Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2025 Just before midnight Monday, Alameda County sheriff’s deputies found Oakland resident Elias Angel Rivera unresponsive in his cell with visible injuries after his cellmate activated the emergency call button, Sgt. Jason Green, The Mercury News, 19 Mar. 2025 The man was later pronounced dead and his cellmate was detained by deputies. Darrell Smith, Sacramento Bee, 13 Mar. 2025 His cellmates had to bang on the door to ask for a nurse. Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 28 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 18 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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