entrapment

noun

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

Despite the claims, experts say that crib bumpers are a hazard, increasing the risks of suffocation, strangulation, and entrapment. — Rachel Rothman, Good Housekeeping, "Are Crib Bumpers Safe? Experts Say Not Even Those "Breathable" Mesh Ones Should Be Used," 29 Apr. 2019 But storage chests can also result in entrapment and suffocation. — Beth Anne Macaluso, Redbook, "16 Common Household Items That Could Kill You," 9 Aug. 2017 But Hussain’s work also came under attack by defense attorneys and civil liberties groups as entrapment. — Tom Hays, The Seattle Times, "Limo company owner was a controversial FBI informant," 9 Oct. 2018 Graco Children's Products is announcing the recall of about 2 million Graco strollers due to risk of entrapment and strangulation. — Jasmin Radoncic, Good Housekeeping, "Recall Alert: Graco Strollers," 20 Oct. 2010 Gone are the infidelity pregnancy entrapment plotlines, traded in for ones about catfishing and the horrors of Internet dating. — Julia Felsenthal, Vogue, "In Dirty John, Connie Britton Brings a Cautionary Tale to Life—And According to Her, the Timing’s Never Been Better to Talk About Con Men," 23 Nov. 2018 The whole thing stinks of entrapment, though the curious question was how the Flynn defense team got the details. — Kimberley A. Strassel, WSJ, "Checking Robert Mueller," 13 Dec. 2018 Tom Jackman/Washington Post/Getty Images Bait devices not only raise questions about entrapment but safety concerns as well. — Nadra Nittle, Vox, "Video: Police allegedly left a “bait truck” filled with Nike shoes in a black Chicago neighborhood," 7 Aug. 2018 Judges also have raised concerns about entrapment and whether the stings went too far by luring suspects with fake plots. — Annie Sweeney, chicagotribune.com, "Feds say man caught in controversial stash house prosecutions went on robbery spree," 31 May 2018

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

10 May 2019

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The first known use of entrapment was in 1609

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More Definitions for entrapment

entrapment

noun

English Language Learners Definition of entrapment

: the act of entrapping someone or something or the condition of being entrapped

: the illegal act of tricking someone into committing a crime so that the person you have tricked can be arrested

See the full definition for entrapment in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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.