confinement

noun

con·​fine·​ment kən-ˈfīn-mənt How to pronounce confinement (audio)
: an act of confining : the state of being confined
solitary confinement
especially : lying-in

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Alcatraz prison embodied terror, isolation and despair, where hardened criminals faced relentless confinement on a desolate rock surrounded by icy, inescapable waters. Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 July 2025 The central function of the judiciary, in all places, is the protection of individuals against arbitrary confinement by the executive. George Liebmann, Baltimore Sun, 2 July 2025 Lately there have been major advances in inertial fusion at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, but magnetic confinement promises, through CFS leadership, to be the first commercial plant. Llewellyn King, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025 McIntire’s federal public defender argued successfully that strict home confinement with GPS monitoring at his parents’ house in Parkville would sufficiently mitigate any risk. David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 23 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for confinement

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1592, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of confinement was in 1592

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Confinement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confinement. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

Medical Definition

confinement

noun
con·​fine·​ment kən-ˈfīn-mənt How to pronounce confinement (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on confinement

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