confinement

noun

con·​fine·​ment kən-ˈfīn-mənt 

1

: an act of confining : the state of being confined

solitary confinement

2

: lying-in

Synonyms of confinement

• captivity
• internment
• imprisonment
• incarceration
• 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

Prosecutors in the case argued the one-year sentence is not enough, saying he should have been committed to state prison and received a longer period of confinement. — Anders Hagstrom, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026

The agency has opened applications for its next Moon & Mars Exploration Analog (MMEA) mission, a year-long simulation that recreates the isolation, confinement and day-to-day challenges of long-duration space exploration. — Sam MacDonald, Scientific American, 2 July 2026

This reflects a shift towards greater use of halfway houses and home confinement. — Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

Peters was released from prison June 1 on parole after serving nearly two years in confinement. — Joey Garrison, USA Today, 30 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1592, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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