confinement

noun

con·​fine·​ment kən-ˈfīn-mənt 

: an act of confining : the state of being confined

solitary confinement

especially : lying-in

Synonyms

• 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

Writing becomes an act of containment—not confinement. —Matthew Clark Davison, Literary Hub, 11 July 2025

The former president returned to confinement in the Seoul Detention Center about 20 km (12 miles) south of the capital after the decision. —Reuters, NBC news, 9 July 2025

Community confinement can be served either at home or in a residential reentry facility, the statement said. —Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2025

What To Know Antle's lawyers requested a sentence of probation and home confinement, citing the 150 exotic animals under his care at Myrtle Beach Safari. —Hollie Silverman jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 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