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.
Moczarski, who had once tried to assassinate Stroop, discovered that his cellmate was entirely unrepentant, and willing to discuss his crimes freely. The Week Uk, TheWeek, 27 Aug. 2026 His family alleges that a Riverside County sheriff’s deputy failed to take appropriate action when Matus’ cellmate initially reported the medical emergency. Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026 Pennsylvania State Police said troopers were called to the state correctional institution in Findley Township the morning of June 21 after 28-year-old Donald Stinedurf reported that his cellmate, 32-year-old Joshua Tisak, was unresponsive. Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026 His cellmate, 45-year-old Jonathan Blackwell, 45, Badelle’s cellmate, was detained and placed in restrictive housing pending the homicide investigation. Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 19 Aug. 2026 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 1 Sep. 2026.

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