jailbird
Frequent cell occupant
A jailbird is a person who has spent time in prison, especially someone who has been incarcerated repeatedly.
The term is mildly contemptuous, suggesting a habitual criminal: Her uncle was an old jailbird who'd been in and out of prison his whole life.
Jailed offender after trial
- prisonerConfined criminal detainee
- inmateConfined facility resident
- detaineePerson held in custody
- cellblockPrison housing unit
penitentiary · lockup · custody · confinement · sentenced · reformatory · correctional · warden
Serious crime perpetrator
- offenderOne who breaks rules
- lawbreakerOne who commits crimes
- delinquentFailing in duty
- wrongdoerPerson who misbehaves
culprit · transgressor · thief · burglar · fraudster · forger · pickpocket · shoplifter
convict
Jailed offender after trial
cellblock · penitentiary · lockup · custody · confinement · sentenced · reformatory · correctional · warden · bars
felon
Serious crime perpetrator
- offenderOne who breaks rules
- lawbreakerOne who commits crimes
- delinquentFailing in duty
wrongdoer · culprit · transgressor · thief · burglar · fraudster · forger · pickpocket · shoplifter · arsonist
fugitive
One fleeing authorities
pursuit · hideout · evade · elude · flee · breakout · jailbreak · tunnel · absconder · wanted
con
Argument against
stretch · slammer · clink · hoosegow · joint · stir · collar · pinched · busted
- Animal Idiomsblind as a bat, brave as a lion, busy bee, copycat, dark horse
- bird expressionsearly bird, birdbrain, bird brain, lovebirds, night owl
- imprisonmentprison, prisoners, cells, captivity, dungeons
- criminalsmurderer, thief, burglar, criminal, killer
- prison slangshank, shiv, yard, cellie, commissary
- prisoncell block, inmate, prison, prisoner, prison cells
jailbirdhero
One admired for courage
pillar of the community · saint · humanitarian · innocent · do-gooder