Jailbird
noun
A person who spends a lot of time in prison often because they commit a lot of crimes.
Despite his efforts to reform himself, he had the reputation of a jailbird in his hometown.
Often appears as...
- notorious jailbird
- habitual jailbird
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
Colloquial
noun
A person who spends a lot of time in prison often because they commit a lot of crimes.
Despite his efforts to reform himself, he had the reputation of a jailbird in his hometown.
Often appears as...
- notorious jailbird
- habitual jailbird
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
Colloquial
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
The term 'jailbird' often implies a negative judgment about the person's criminal behavior.
The old town gossip referred to the recently released man as a jailbird.
Pro Tip 2/3Colloquial Use
'Jailbird' is informal and mostly used in casual speech, not in formal writing.
At the family barbecue, Uncle Joe joked about his youth as a jailbird.
Pro Tip 3/3Cultural Perception
In some cultures, calling someone a 'jailbird' can be a serious insult.
When she called him a jailbird, everyone knew the argument had escalated.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
The term 'jailbird' often implies a negative judgment about the person's criminal behavior.
The old town gossip referred to the recently released man as a jailbird.
Pro Tip 2/3Colloquial Use
'Jailbird' is informal and mostly used in casual speech, not in formal writing.
At the family barbecue, Uncle Joe joked about his youth as a jailbird.
Pro Tip 3/3Cultural Perception
In some cultures, calling someone a 'jailbird' can be a serious insult.
When she called him a jailbird, everyone knew the argument had escalated.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
The term 'jailbird' often implies a negative judgment about the person's criminal behavior.
The old town gossip referred to the recently released man as a jailbird.
Pro Tip 2/3Colloquial Use
'Jailbird' is informal and mostly used in casual speech, not in formal writing.
At the family barbecue, Uncle Joe joked about his youth as a jailbird.
Pro Tip 3/3Cultural Perception
In some cultures, calling someone a 'jailbird' can be a serious insult.
When she called him a jailbird, everyone knew the argument had escalated.
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Quote examples
Yolanda King
American Activist
Til I was about eight or nine, I had no awareness he was anybody special. Since all our friends were in the movement, I thought what Daddy did was natural. Everybody went to jail, right? Then, one day some kids at school called my daddy a jailbird, and it upset me. That was the beginning of my awareness.
Quote examples
Steven Pinker
Canadian Scientist
Paris Hilton, it turns out, is related to fellow celebrity jailbirds Zsa Zsa Gabor and G. Gordon Liddy.
Quote examples
Yolanda King
American Activist
Til I was about eight or nine, I had no awareness he was anybody special. Since all our friends were in the movement, I thought what Daddy did was natural. Everybody went to jail, right? Then, one day some kids at school called my daddy a jailbird, and it upset me. That was the beginning of my awareness.
Quote examples
Steven Pinker
Canadian Scientist
Paris Hilton, it turns out, is related to fellow celebrity jailbirds Zsa Zsa Gabor and G. Gordon Liddy.
Example 1 of 2
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