imprisonment

[im-priz-uhn-muhnt]

noun

1. the act of confining in or as if in a prison; the state of being so confined.

   Identity theft and computer fraud are criminal offenses punishable by imprisonment.

   Winter up there means cumbersome living and imprisonment in an icy hell.

Word History and Origins

Origin of imprisonment¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; from Old French emprisonnement, equivalent to imprison ( def. ) + -ment ( def. )

Example Sentences

He was also convicted of attempted murder and a federal firearms charge, and had been sentenced to life imprisonment, according to the Atlanta Police Department.

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Federal prosecutors sought a three-year prison sentence against Lira for his role in the legal fraud scheme, arguing that his lies to clients and to Judge Durkin warranted a meaningful term of imprisonment.

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"I could talk for a very, very long time about our mistreatment and abuses in our imprisonment, trust me, but that is not the story," she added.

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Bahjat, who spoke on condition of only giving his first name, said those coming to the Russian army from abroad should expect to go into combat, and that breaking the contract risks imprisonment.

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Ekkalak had initially been handed the death penalty, but that was commuted to life imprisonment because of his confession to the killing, the court said on Friday.

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Related Words

• captivity 
• confinement 
• custody 
• incarceration 
• isolation