parole

If you're in prison, after serving a few years you might be let out on parole, a promise to be good and check in regularly.

Parole comes from the French for "word," and means "word of honor." You'll most frequently hear it in relation to prisoners, who promise to fulfill certain conditions in return for an early release from jail. When the officials are trying to decide whether a prisoner is ready for parole, they have a parole hearing. Parole can also mean "password." If you're part of an underground revolutionary group, you'll need a parole to help keep your meetings secret. Just say the word at the door, and they'll let you in.

Definitions of parole
  1. 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
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    type of:
    freeing, liberation, release
    the act of liberating someone or something
  2. verb
    release a criminal from detention and place him on parole
    “The prisoner was paroled after serving 10 years in prison”
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    type of:
    free, liberate, loose, release, unloose, unloosen
    grant freedom to; free from confinement
  3. noun
    a secret word or phrase known only to a restricted group
    synonyms: countersign, password, watchword, word
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    type of:
    arcanum, secret
    information known only to a special group
    positive identification
    evidence proving that you are who you say you are; evidence establishing that you are among the group of people already known to the system; recognition by the system leads to acceptance
  4. noun
    a promise
    synonyms: word, word of honor
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    type of:
    promise
    a verbal commitment by one person to another agreeing to do (or not to do) something in the future
Word Family