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Definition and meaning of English word "bail"

bail

/beɪl/

Meaning

Noun

Security, usually a sum of money, exchanged for the release of an arrested person as a guarantee of that person's appearance for trial.

Reviewed by the TheLernen language team

How to use

The term 'bail' is often used in a legal context, referring to the temporary release of an individual from custody in exchange for a monetary guarantee that they will appear in court. It's essential to note that 'bail' can be used as both a noun and a verb, with the verb form meaning to release someone on bail. A common mistake learners make is confusing 'bail' with 'bale,' which refers to a bundle of goods.

🇬🇧 English

bail

Example

The magistrate set the suspect's bail at fifty thousand dollars due to the flight risk.

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Synonyms

a financial guaranteea guarantee or collaterala sum of money paid as a guarantee

Common phrases

  • post bail— to pay the money to free someone from jail
  • bail someone out— to help someone by providing the money to get them out of jail
  • bail conditions— rules that someone must follow when they are released on bail

More Law & Society words

This concept in other languages

Frequency rank: #1364 in English

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does the English word "bail" mean?▼

The English word "bail" means "bail" in English.

How do you pronounce the English word "bail"?▼

You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "bail" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.

Can I see an example sentence with "bail"?▼

Yes, here is a practical example: "The magistrate set the suspect's bail at fifty thousand dollars due to the flight risk." (which translates as "bail").

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