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

The cage-free adoption and medical facility was designed to maximize socialization and lessen any stress on the animals by eliminating confinement. — Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2026

The Miami Correctional Facility, however, is the only detention center located inside an active state prison designed for punitive confinement. — Laura Rodríguez Presa, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026

According to Brett Barrouquere's story Monday, violating any terms of home confinement would result in the inmate going right back to prison. — Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026

Think super-powerful magnets in medical imaging and particle physics experiments; faster circuits that won’t overheat; potential for nuclear fusion plasma confinement. — Sven Badoux, New Atlas, 23 Oct. 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