false imprisonment

noun

: imprisonment of a person contrary to law

Examples of false imprisonment in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Many of these people came forward after Roiland was charged with domestic battery and false imprisonment in 2020. Vulture, 13 Sep. 2023 In January 2023, authorities arrested Roiland and charged him with one felony count of domestic battery with corporal injury and one felony count of false imprisonment by menace, violence, fraud, and/or deceit following the incident. Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 13 Sep. 2023 These new allegations are separate from the charges against Roiland that were dropped earlier this year, which pertained to allegations of battery and false imprisonment made by an unnamed Jane Doe who was dating Roiland in January 2020 at the time of the claimed incident. Selome Hailu, Variety, 13 Sep. 2023 Now, Robertson faces charges for felony murder, malice murder, concealing death of another, rape, kidnapping, false imprisonment, forgery, financial card theft and financial card fraud, according to court records. Christina Coulter, Fox News, 7 Aug. 2023 He was arrested in Miami and is facing a slew of charges including assault with a deadly weapon, false imprisonment, and child abuse despite denying the allegations. Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 25 Aug. 2023 The trio also accuse Lizzo of disability discrimination, assault and false imprisonment. Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2023 Additional allegations in the suit include interference with prospective economic advantage and false imprisonment, but not all of the allegations pertain to all of the defendants. Ilana Kaplan, Peoplemag, 4 Aug. 2023 Other accusations alleged in the suit are religious and racial harassment, false imprisonment, and interference with prospective economic advantage, among other claims. Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 3 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'false imprisonment.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of false imprisonment was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near false imprisonment

Cite this Entry

“False imprisonment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/false%20imprisonment. Accessed 29 Sep. 2023.

Legal Definition

false imprisonment

noun
: the tort of intentionally restraining another by physical force or the threat of physical force without privilege or authority see also false arrest at arrest

More from Merriam-Webster on false imprisonment

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!