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

Her wails make Davina recall her own confinement, where she was treated similarly awfully and responded by cursing the women in the room. —Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 5 Sep. 2025

Many of the other 250 individuals sent to El Salvador to be imprisoned in a maximum-security confinement center for four months were also accused of being gang members, but the government never presented clear evidence. —Agustina Vergara Cid, Oc Register, 5 Sep. 2025

Leon’s bond conditions include home confinement and electronic monitoring. —Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2025

The sheriff's office made no announcement after two men were charged with criminal confinement and battery weeks after the assault. —Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 3 Sep. 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