impoundment

noun

im·​pound·​ment im-ˈpau̇n(d)-mənt How to pronounce impoundment (audio)
1
: the act of impounding : the state of being impounded
2
: a body of water formed by impounding

Examples of impoundment in a Sentence

after his impoundment in the garage all weekend, the family dog was ready to frolic
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Again, ignoring the words of the law, the two-judge majority held that only the comptroller could sue to stop the president, not people whose lives and fortunes were destroyed by the president's impoundment decisions. Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025 Past efforts by presidents to control federal spending through impoundment or executive orders have often been thwarted by Congress and the courts. A.j. Russo, Baltimore Sun, 17 Aug. 2025 The name Gathright Dam pays tribute to Thomas Gathright, the man whose land the Jackson River flooded prior to the impoundment being built. Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 15 Aug. 2025 This move, called impoundment, would be controversial, and its legality would likely have to be adjudicated in the courts. Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 1 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for impoundment

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1665, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of impoundment was circa 1665

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Cite this Entry

“Impoundment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impoundment. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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