impoundment

noun

im·​pound·​ment im-ˈpau̇n(d)-mənt 

1

: the act of impounding : the state of being impounded

2

: a body of water formed by impounding

Synonyms of impoundment

• captivity
• internment
• incarceration
• imprisonment
• confinement

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

The city said in its release Central Iowa Towing and Recovery in its bid crossed out a requirement that the contractor provide notice by mail of the impoundment to the owner of the vehicle within 72 hours and wrote instead 20 days. —Lee Rood, Des Moines Register, 20 Feb. 2026

Utility owners historically have buried the ash in impoundments or ponds. —Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 17 Feb. 2026

No fines are specified, but the ordinance gives the city the authority to recover the costs associated with the impoundment and storage of e-bikes. —Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026

But other local ordinances related to ATVs — like those that prohibit their use in parks or on public roadways — do not provide for impoundment. —Killian Baarlaer, Louisville Courier Journal, 17 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1665, in the meaning defined at sense 1