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Imprisoned vs Incarcerated - What's the difference?

imprisoned | incarcerated |

As verbs the difference between imprisoned and incarcerated

is that imprisoned is past tense of imprison while incarcerated is past tense of incarcerate.

imprisoned

English

Verb

(head)
  • (imprison)

    • imprison

    English

    Alternative forms

    * emprison

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To put in or as if in prison; confine.

    • Synonyms

    * bang up * gaol, jail * lock up * put away * (British, colloquial) sent to the Tower “imprisoned” * See also

    Derived terms

    * imprisoner * imprisonment

    incarcerated

    English

    Verb

    (head)
  • (incarcerate)

    • incarcerate

    English

    Verb

    (incarcerat)
  • To lock away; to imprison, especially for breaking the law.
  • * 2013 September 23, Masha Gessen, " Life in a Russian Prison," New York Times (retrieved 24 September 2013):
    • Tolokonnikova has also been an effective public speaker even while incarcerated , but she has spoken out on politics and freedom in general rather than prisoners’ rights.
  • To confine; to shut up or enclose; to hem in.

    • Usage notes

    As a Latinate term, somewhat formal, compared to imprison.

    Synonyms

    * imprison * jail

    Derived terms

    * incarceration

    Related terms

    * carceral * carcerate

    External links

    * * ----