confiscate

1 of 2

adjective

con·​fis·​cate ˈkän-fə-ˌskāt  kən-ˈfi-skət 

1

: appropriated by the government : forfeited

2

: deprived of property by confiscation

confiscate

2 of 2

verb

con·​fis·​cate ˈkän-fə-ˌskāt 

confiscated; confiscating

transitive verb

1

: to seize as forfeited to the public treasury

2

: to seize by or as if by authority

confiscation

ˌkän-fə-ˈskā-shən 

noun

confiscator

ˈkän-fə-ˌskā-tər 

noun

confiscatory

kən-ˈfi-skə-ˌtȯr-ē 

adjective

Synonyms of confiscate

Verb

• seize
• attach

Examples of confiscate in a Sentence

Verb

Guards confiscated knives and other weapons from the prisoners.

The teacher confiscated all cell phones for the duration of the field trip.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

After helping rescue a small group of ploughshares confiscated from smugglers, Goode and the Turtle Conservancy became the first to successfully breed the species outside of Madagascar. — Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 29 July 2026

Once a convent in the early 1400s, the building was confiscated by the city in 1578 as part of the Protestant Reformation. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 July 2026

So far this year, officials have confiscated more than 8,900 species, although a majority of those were crickets and young fish to feed animals including seahorses. — ABC News, 29 July 2026

The 17 lobsters were confiscated and later returned alive to the ocean. — Denis Akbari, USA Today, 29 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin confiscatus, past participle of confiscare to confiscate, from com- + fiscus treasury

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1552, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for confiscate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate
• angulate

Kids Definition

confiscate

verb

con·​fis·​cate

ˈkän-fə-ˌskāt

confiscated; confiscating

: to seize by or as if by public authority

smuggled goods may be confiscated by the police

confiscation

ˌkän-fə-ˈskā-shən

noun

confiscator

ˈkän-fə-ˌskāt-ər

noun

confiscatory

kən-ˈfis-kə-ˌtōr-ē, 

-ˌtȯr-

adjective

Legal Definition

confiscate

transitive verb

con·​fis·​cate ˈkän-fə-ˌskāt 

confiscated; confiscating

: to seize without compensation as forfeited to the public treasury compare criminal forfeiture

Note: Illegal items such as narcotics or firearms, or profits from the sale of illegal items, may be confiscated by law enforcement officers. Additionally, government action that reduces the value of property to a person or entity as to make it nearly worthless has been held to constitute confiscation. Examples of such government action include the passage of zoning laws that prevent the use of land for its designated purpose and the setting of utility rates so low that the utility company cannot realize a reasonable return on its investment.

confiscation

ˌkän-fə-ˈskā-shən 

noun

confiscator

ˈkän-fə-ˌskā-tər 

noun

confiscatory

kən-ˈfis-kə-ˌtōr-ē 

adjective