entrapment

noun en·trap·ment \ in-ˈtrap-mənt , en- \

Updated on: 13 Apr 2018

Definition of entrapment

1 a : 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

See entrapment defined for English-language learners

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 of entrapment from the Web

But entrapment feels wrong, spying feels wrong, and there's a sense that Americans should have privacy in their own homes.

— randy dotinga, The Christian Science Monitor, "The 19th-century censor who pushed Americans too far," 10 Apr. 2018
His attorney says his client is a victim of federal entrapment.

— the washington post, kansascity, "ICE seeking to deport immigrant veteran after Mattis assured that would not happen | The Kansas City Star," 4 Apr. 2018
The impact from the crash caused two vehicles to go off the roadway, and it was reported to police as an entrapment.

— frank abderholden, Lake County News-Sun, "Round Lake Beach man who died in crash remembered as a hard-working family man," 27 Mar. 2018
His tendency to oversell may have also proven his undoing when a documentary crew taped him suggesting his company could deploy entrapment tactics to smear clients’ opponents.

— david z. morris, Fortune, "Cambridge Analytica Wasn’t Quite What It Claimed to Be," 25 Mar. 2018
The company -- SCL Group, the British affiliate of Cambridge Analytica, which worked for the Trump campaign -- has often felt no need to hide some of its tactics, although Nix, in response to Channel 4, denied ever engaging in entrapment or bribery.

— Bloomberg.com, "Cambridge Analytica's History of Dubious Election Tricks," 20 Mar. 2018
Also at Friday’s hearing, Oaks’ attorney withdrew a motion to provide jurors with a definition of entrapment.

— jessica anderson, baltimoresun.com, "Sen. Oaks cites Supreme Court ruling to have some charges dismissed," 16 Mar. 2018
Niko Suokko, 18, and Declan Ervin, 17, each died from asphyxiation due to snow entrapment, the medical examiner said.

— seattle times staff, The Seattle Times, "2 Bellevue teens killed in avalanche identified," 27 Feb. 2018
But with the major characters free from their entrapment in the next two films, the trilogy loses much of its charm.

— patrick cooley, cleveland.com, "'Maze Runner: The Death Cure' will mark the end of an era," 25 Jan. 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.

First Known Use of entrapment

1597

ENTRAPMENT Defined for English Language Learners

entrapment

noun

Definition of entrapment for English Language Learners

: 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

Medical 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

Law Dictionary

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.

Learn More about entrapment

Spanish Central: Translation of entrapment Nglish: Translation of entrapment for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of entrapment for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about entrapment

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entrapment

Definition of entrapment

Examples of entrapment in a Sentence

Recent Examples of entrapment from the Web

First Known Use of entrapment

ENTRAPMENT Defined for English Language Learners

entrapment

Definition of entrapment for English Language Learners

Medical Dictionary

entrapment

medical Definition of entrapment

Law Dictionary

entrapment

legal Definition of entrapment

Learn More about entrapment

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entrapment

Definition of entrapment

Examples of entrapment in a Sentence

Recent Examples of entrapment from the Web

First Known Use of entrapment

ENTRAPMENT Defined for English Language Learners

entrapment

Definition of entrapment for English Language Learners

Medical Dictionary

entrapment

medical Definition of entrapment

Law Dictionary

entrapment

legal Definition of entrapment

Learn More about entrapment

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