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

Nice wasn't able to get in to see Gomes da Silva until the fifth day of his confinement. —Ben Adler, USA Today, 7 June 2025

In their sentencing filing Friday, Madigan’s attorneys asked U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey for a period of probation with some home confinement, citing Madigan’s age, his long record of public service and reputation for honesty and integrity. —Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2025

The defense team asked for a term of two months of home confinement and 300 hours of community service. —Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2025

That kind of confinement was also used as punishment, in violation of state law. —Paige Pfleger, ProPublica, 2 June 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