parole Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a promise
    word of honor; word.
    • he gave his word
  2. noun a secret word or phrase known only to a restricted group
    word; countersign; password; watchword.
    • he forgot the password
  3. noun (law) a conditional release from imprisonment that entitles the person to serve the remainder of the sentence outside the prison as long as the terms of release are complied with
  4. verb release a criminal from detention and place him on parole
    • The prisoner was paroled after serving 10 years in prison

WordNet

Pa*role" noun
Etymology
F. parole. See Parley, and cf. Parol.
Definitions
  1. A word; an oral utterance. Obs.
  2. Word of promise; word of honor; plighted faith; especially (Mil.), promise, upon one's faith and honor, to fulfill stated conditions, as not to bear arms against one's captors, to return to custody, or the like.
    This man had forfeited his military parole. Macaulay.
  3. (Mil.) A watchword given only to officers of guards; -- distinguished from countersign, which is given to all guards.
  4. (Law) Oral declaration. See lst Parol, 2.
Pa*role" adjective
Definitions
  1. See 2d Parol.
Pa*role" transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Paroled ; present participle & verbal noun Paroling
Definitions
  1. (Mil.) To set at liberty on parole; as, to parole prisoners.

Webster 1913