The meaning of JAILBIRD is a person confined in jail; especially : a habitual criminal.

His work is notable for its syncopated rhythms, surreal imagery, and a quality of alienation stemming from his own life as a drifter and a jailbird.

Definition of jailbird noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Jailbird definition: a person who is or has been confined in jail; convict or ex-convict.. See examples of JAILBIRD used in a sentence.

jailbird (ˈdʒeɪlˌbɜːd) or gaolbird n a person who is or has been confined to jail, esp repeatedly; convict

Aug 23, 2025 · Definitions of jail bird noun a criminal who has been jailed repeatedly synonyms: gaolbird, jailbird see more

Jun 3, 2025 · jailbird (plural jailbirds) ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2025), “ jailbird ”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

jailbird, n. meanings, etymology, pronunciation and more in the Oxford English Dictionary

A jailbird is a slang term for a person who has been imprisoned or is frequently in jail. It often implies a habitual offender who is used to being incarcerated.

If you refer to someone as a jailbird, you mean that they are in prison, or have been in prison.