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“Gaol” or “Jail”

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.

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Definitions

What each term means

Same sound, different spellings and meanings, shown with a pronunciation guide for each term.

gaol

No dictionary entry for this spelling — see the usage examples below for how it shows up in writing.

jail jh·EY·l

  • nouna 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).
Usage

Examples in context

Real sentences for each spelling. Hover an example to copy it.

“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…

“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 are drawn from WordNet.

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