confinement

noun

con·​fine·​ment kən-ˈfīn-mənt 

: an act of confining : the state of being confined

solitary confinement

especially : lying-in

Synonyms

• captivity
• immurement
• impoundment
• imprisonment
• incarceration
• internment
• prison

Examples of confinement in a Sentence

The dog was kept in confinement until it was determined to be healthy.

He remained with his wife during her confinement.

Recent Examples on the Web

This means Jaynes is either in a residential reentry center or in home confinement. —Tim Evans, The Indianapolis Star, 16 Dec. 2024

According to the Miami Herald, Shapiro had been released from prison in 2020 as part of a COVID-era program to move inmates to home confinement. —Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 14 Dec. 2024

The fate of those who were moved to home confinement during the pandemic, when covid was spreading rapidly through jails and prisons, has been of particular concern to activists in recent weeks. —Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 13 Dec. 2024

He was sentenced to 17.5 years in prison in September 2011, but was sent to home confinement in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. —Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 13 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French, from confiner "to confine entry 2" + -ment -ment

First Known Use

1592, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing confinement

• solitary confinement

Medical Definition

confinement

noun

con·​fine·​ment kən-ˈfīn-mənt 

: an act of confining : the state of being confined

especially : lying-in

Legal Definition

confinement

noun

con·​fine·​ment

1

: the act of confining

2

: the state of being confined