confinement

noun

con·​fine·​ment kən-ˈfīn-mənt 

: an act of confining : the state of being confined

solitary confinement

especially : lying-in

Synonyms

• captivity
• immurement
• impoundment
• imprisonment
• incarceration
• internment
• prison

Examples of confinement in a Sentence

The dog was kept in confinement until it was determined to be healthy.

He remained with his wife during her confinement.

Recent Examples on the Web

For its investigation, the California Justice Department staff worked with a team of correctional and healthcare experts to examine a range of conditions of confinement — including use of force, discipline, access to healthcare and due process — in the state’s immigration detention facilities. —Jenny Jarvie, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2025

Reports from inside the facility reveal dire conditions, including insufficient food and water, unsanitary confinement, and medical neglect. —Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025

Van Hollen went to El Salvador last week to visit the Salvadoran immigrant outside of the country’s terrorism confinement center, Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo, referred to as CECOT. —Jenny Goldsberry, The Washington Examiner, 21 Apr. 2025

In March, Abrego Garcia, who lived with his wife in Maryland, was sent to El Salvador’s notorious terrorist confinement center (CECOT). —The Hill, 20 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French, from confiner "to confine entry 2" + -ment -ment

First Known Use

1592, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing confinement

• solitary confinement

Rhymes for confinement

• misalignment
• nonalignment
• realignment
• reassignment
• reconsignment
• alignment
• alinement
• assignment
• consignment
• refinement

Medical Definition

confinement

noun

con·​fine·​ment kən-ˈfīn-mənt 

: an act of confining : the state of being confined

especially : lying-in

Legal Definition

confinement

noun

con·​fine·​ment

1

: the act of confining

2

: the state of being confined