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

Derived in the 1950s, the Lawson Criterion describes the combinations of temperature, plasma density, and energy confinement needed to net energy production from fusion plasma. — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 10 Aug. 2026

Unlike prisons, jails are designed for short-term detention rather than prolonged confinement. — Jillian Turanovic, The Conversation, 10 Aug. 2026

One of China’s most powerful AI models has joined the rush to escape confinement. — Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Shah was sentenced in 2024 to 7½ years in prison, and Agarwal was sentenced to three years of confinement at a halfway house. — Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 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