Parole
noun /pəˈroʊl/ — Conditional early release from prison.
Definition
The conditional release of a prisoner before the end of their sentence, requiring adherence to specified conditions and supervision. The parolee remains legally under the sentence — violating conditions can result in return to prison.
Beyond the definition
Parole is freedom with a tether — the conditional gift of outside air that can be recalled at any violation. It tests whether rehabilitation is possible under the pressure of very little room for error.
Origin & history
From French 'parole' (word, promise). Released 'on their word' — on the parolee's promise of good behavior.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
He was released on parole after seven years — required to report weekly, live within the county, maintain employment.
Parole conditions can be so extensive that failure becomes almost inevitable — a system critics argue is designed to recapture rather than reintegrate.
She attended every parole hearing for her brother, speaking to a board that held years of his life in a morning's deliberation.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Parole” when the meaning fits your context: The conditional release of a prisoner before the end of their sentence, requiring adherence to specified conditions and supervision. The parolee remains legally under the sentence — violating conditions can result in return to prison.
Synonyms
early release, conditional release, supervised release
Antonyms
incarceration, imprisonment
Related words
Parole vs probation
Parole involves supervised release from prison after serving part of a sentence. Probation is a court-ordered alternative to jail time, keeping the individual out of prison entirely under supervision.
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Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Adult Recovering In Sunlit Conservatory
An adult sits in a sunlit conservatory, recovering from an injury while using a mobility aid and looking at a regrowing plant.
Parole is the conditional release of a prisoner under supervision. The recovery in an open environment, while still subject to conditions, mirrors this state, where rehabilitation is tested outside the prison walls.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Parole" mean?
Parole is noun meaning: Conditional early release from prison.. The conditional release of a prisoner before the end of their sentence, requiring adherence to specified conditions and supervision. The parolee remains legally under the sentence — violating conditions can result in return to prison.
Where does the word "Parole" come from?
From French 'parole' (word, promise). Released 'on their word' — on the parolee's promise of good behavior.