Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » parole

parole

Listen See in Thesaurus See in a sentence

Parole is the early release of a prisoner or a state of supervision that occurs after someone has been released from incarceration.

(noun)

When a person gets out of jail after committing a theft but he still has to check in regularly with his probation officer and comply with certain requirements, this is an example of a time when he is on parole.

To parole is to allow for the release of a prisoner.

(verb)

When a group of board members on the probation board in the criminal justice department review a prisoner's case and decide to let him out of jail, this is an example of a time when they parole the prisoner.

See parole in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

Now Rare word of honor; promise; esp., the promise of a prisoner of war to abide by certain conditions, often specif. to take no further part in the fighting, in exchange for full or partial freedom
the condition of being on parole
☆
1. the release of a prisoner whose sentence has not expired, on condition of future good behavior: the sentence is not set aside and the individual remains under the supervision of a parole board
2. the conditional freedom granted by such release, or the period of it
Mil., Obsolete a special password used only by certain authorized persons

Origin: Fr, a word, formal promise < OFr < LL(Ec) parabola, a speech, parable

transitive verb paroled, paroling

☆ to grant parole to (a prisoner)

See parole in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

Law
a. Early release of a prisoner who is then subject to continued monitoring as well as compliance with certain terms and conditions for a specified period.
b. The duration of such conditional release.
A password used by an officer of the day, an officer on guard, or the personnel commanded by such an officer.
Word of honor, especially that of a prisoner of war who is granted freedom only after promising not to engage in combat until formally exchanged.
Linguistics The act of speaking; a particular utterance or word.

transitive verb pa·roled, pa·rol·ing, pa·roles

To release (a prisoner) on parole.

Origin:

Origin: French, promise, word

Origin: , from Vulgar Latin *paraula

Origin: , from Latin parabola, discourse; see parable

Learn more about parole

parole synonyms

parole legal definition

parole phrase meanings

parole in a sentence

parole quotes