incarceration
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of incarceration
First recorded in 1530–40; from French incarcération, from Latin incarcerātiōn-, stem of incarcerātiō, equivalent to incarcerāt(us), past participle of incarcerāre “to imprison” + -iō -ion ( def. ); see incarcerate ( def. )
Explanation
Incarceration is the state of being in prison. If you don't fancy incarceration, don't go through with that bank heist. The noun incarceration comes from the Latin word carcer, meaning "jail." There are many different types of incarceration. If you commit a crime and get locked up, that's one form of incarceration. Some people might feel that school is a form of incarceration. Some highly religious people think of the body as an incarceration of the spirit. A great synonym for this word is captivity.
Vocabulary lists containing incarceration
Just Mercy
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
They Called Us Enemy
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Turtles All the Way Down
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Incarceration, they contended, was a de facto death sentence given his age and ill health, and his lack of short-term memory meant he would have no understanding of why he was behind bars.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 17, 2025
Incarceration doesn't just happen when you're behind a wall; sometimes, we feel locked up in our communities.
From Salon • Mar. 2, 2024
The Nation of Islam follower and convicted murderer was released in 2020 as part of the Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act.
From Washington Times • Sep. 20, 2023
Many communities across Washington face a daunting reality: Incarceration rates are outpacing population growth.
From Seattle Times • Mar. 17, 2023
Incarceration for a political offence is a rare event in the career of a chief justice and an English baronet, as this prisoner was to be later.
From The Winning of Popular Government A Chronicle of the Union of 1841 by MacMechan, Archibald
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
