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

Before leaving office, President Joe Biden commuted Peltier’s life sentence to home confinement. —German Lopez, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025

The smuggling operations also can cause psychological distress and confinement in small spaces, which can cause injury and even death. —Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2025

The act of clemency permits Peltier, who is 80 and has been in declining health for years, to serve his remaining days in home confinement. —Erik Ortiz, NBC News, 18 Feb. 2025

Now, the man is charged with criminal deviate conduct, burglary and criminal confinement, police said. —Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 12 Feb. 2025

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

Rhymes for confinement

• misalignment
• nonalignment
• realignment
• reassignment
• reconsignment
• alignment
• alinement
• assignment
• consignment
• refinement

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