imprisonment

noun

im·​pris·​on·​ment -zᵊnmənt How to pronounce imprisonment (audio)
plural -s
Synonyms of imprisonmentnext
1
: the act of imprisoning or the state of being imprisoned : confinement, restraint
2
: constraint of a person either by force or by such other coercion as restrains him within limits against his will

Word History

Etymology

Middle English enprisonment, inprisonment, from Middle French emprisonnement, from Old French, from emprisoner + -ment

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Cite this Entry

“Imprisonment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/imprisonment. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.

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