“Gaol” or “Jail”—Which to use?

“Gaol” or “Jail”

Overview

gaol / jail are similar-sounding terms with different meanings (referred to as homophones). To better understand the differences, see below for definitions, pronunciation guides, and example sentences using each term. 👇

Definitions

gaol: NA

jail: (noun) 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).

Pronunciation

gaol: NA

jail: jh·EY·l

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Examples in Context

Examples of “gaol”

The Gaol was designed in the Greek…
…in his being sent to gaol.
…up in the Old Melbourne Gaol.
…(City Centre – Old Melbourne Gaol)
…and Alizon Device to Lancaster Gaol, to be tried for maleficium…
…others were sent to Lancaster Gaol, to join the four already…
The main Cork County Gaol buildings were erected in the…
…by firing squad in Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin, on 8 May 1916.
…in Knutsford Prison and Reading Gaol.
…three miles to the local gaol to speak to 400 prisoners…

Examples of “jail”

…helped secure his release from jail in 1947.
…Prison began as a county jail in 1830 before transforming into…
His jail term was later reduced to…
After being taken to a jail cell, Hard Drive is broken…
…(Sheriff may not go to jail, killing an Outlaw brings the…
…could not afford fines or jail time.
…detain attendees in a mobile jail until pins or buttons are…
in the case of Jail or Dynamite.)
is still required for Jail, but this Jail has no…
…18, Rodriguez ended up in jail.

(Examples are Wikipedia snippets under the CC ShareAlike 3.0 license. Definitions drawn from WordNet.)

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