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

In July 2004, she was sentenced to five months in prison and five months of home confinement, followed by two years of supervised probation; she was also fined $30,000. — Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 3 Aug. 2026

Instead, she was charged with one misdemeanor count of animal cruelty and one misdemeanor count of confinement of animals without sufficient exercise. — Natasha Holt, FOXNews.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Due to their tiny size, roughly 4 nanometers across, quantum confinement breaks their energy levels into discrete steps rather than a continuous chunk. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 31 July 2026

Last week, Lichter filed a petition of habeas corpus, challenging Morales Rojas’ arrest and confinement at the ICE immigration detention facility in Aurora. — Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 31 July 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