inmate

An inmate is a person who is living in a prison or jail while waiting for their trial or serving a sentence.

You might hear the term inmate used on TV shows or movies that are set in prisons, but it's also used in real life to refer to people who are currently behind bars. In newspapers or news reports, you might read about an inmate who escaped from prison or one who is suing for better living conditions while incarcerated. The word is often used interchangeably with "prisoner", but some people make a distinction between the two - an inmate can be someone who is in jail awaiting trial, whereas a prisoner has already been convicted of a crime and is serving time.