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

From optimizing nuclear thermal engines to managing complex plasma confinement in fusion systems, AI is reshaping propulsion design and operations. —Preeti Nair, Space.com, 7 Dec. 2025

At the time of the search, Kelsey was on home confinement with GPS monitoring as a condition of release on two pending Massachusetts Superior Court drug trafficking cases. —Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 6 Dec. 2025

His lawyer had requested six months of home confinement for the violations. —CBS News, 6 Dec. 2025

That confinement was predicated on Brian Walshe being the primary caregiver for their children, Ana Walshe told Fastow, according to his testimony. —Lauren Del Valle, CNN Money, 5 Dec. 2025

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