square john
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A prisoner who generally obeys the rules and avoids trouble.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Occasionally reputable persons, or "square johns," commit a felony of the type that leads to arrest […]
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “square john” mean?
A prisoner who generally obeys the rules and avoids trouble.
Is “square john” formal or informal?
square john is generally slang.