entrapment

noun

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en·trap·ment | \ in-ˈtrap-mənt

, en- \

Definition of entrapment

1a : the action or process of entrapping

b : the condition of being entrapped

2 : the action of luring an individual into committing a crime in order to prosecute the person for it

3 medical : chronic compression of a peripheral nerve (such as the median nerve) usually between ligamentous and bony surfaces that is marked by pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness

Examples of entrapment in a Sentence

her entrapment in an unhappy marriage His lawyer argued that he was a victim of police entrapment.

Recent Examples on the Web And though Kusijanović doesn’t suggest a clear way out of Julija’s entrapment, her young heroine has already done something therapeutic. — Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2022 All soft objects, including pillows, quilts, pillowlike toys, comforters, and even blankets pose a risk of SIDS, suffocation, entrapment or strangulation, the guidelines note. — Dan Hurley, Anchorage Daily News, 22 June 2022 All soft objects, including pillows, quilts, pillowlike toys, comforters, and even blankets pose a risk of SIDS, suffocation, entrapment or strangulation, the guidelines note. — Dan Hurley, Washington Post, 21 June 2022 As the war grinds across the rolling plains and forests of Eastern Ukraine, the maneuvering of troops has in large part evolved into attempts at entrapment. — New York Times, 25 May 2022 Chutkow also questioned the defense's entrapment claims, particularly when the lawyers argued at closing that the FBI hatched the kidnap plot and set the defendants up to advance their own careers. — Tresa Baldas, Detroit Free Press, 6 Apr. 2022 In Homewood, police and firefighters reported flooding but no entrapment or water rescues. — Carol Robinson | Crobinson@al.com, al, 8 June 2022 The jury also is considering an entrapment defense — that is, the FBI set up the defendants and persuaded them to commit the crime. — Tresa Baldas, Detroit Free Press, 5 Apr. 2022 Defense attorneys have signaled an entrapment defense, criticizing the government's use of undercover FBI agents and confidential informants. — CBS News, 9 Mar. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'entrapment.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

4 Aug 2022

Cite this Entry

“Entrapment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/entrapment. Accessed 19 Aug. 2022.

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More Definitions for entrapment

entrapment

noun

en·trap·ment | \ in-ˈtrap-mənt, en-

Medical Definition of entrapment

: chronic compression of a peripheral nerve (as the median nerve or ulnar nerve) usually between ligamentous and bony surfaces that is characterized especially by pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness

entrapment

noun

en·trap·ment

Legal Definition of entrapment

1 : the action or process of entrapping

2 : the state or condition of being entrapped also : the affirmative defense of having been entrapped by a government agent (as an officer or informant) — see also predispose

Note: Entrapment is available as a defense only when an agent of the state or federal government has provided the encouragement or inducement. This defense is sometimes allowed in administrative proceedings (as for the revocation of a license to practice medicine) as well as criminal proceedings. In order to establish entrapment, the defendant has the burden of proving either that he or she would not have committed the crime but for the undue persuasion or fraud of the government agent, or that the encouragement was such that it created a risk that persons not inclined to commit the crime would commit it, depending on the jurisdiction. When entrapment is pleaded, evidence (as character evidence) regarding the defendant that might otherwise have been excluded is allowed to be admitted.