confinement

American  

[kuhn-fahyn-muhnt] / kənˈfaɪn mənt /

noun

1. the act of confining.

2. the state of being confined. confined.

3. the lying-in of a woman in childbed; accouchement; childbirth.

4. Military. incarceration in a guardhouse or prison while awaiting trial or as a punishment (arrest ).

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confinement British  

/ kənˈfaɪnmənt /

noun

1. the act of confining or the state of being confined

2. the period from the onset of labour to the birth of a child

3. physics another name for containment

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Other Word Forms

• nonconfinement noun
• postconfinement noun
• preconfinement noun
• self-confinement noun
• semiconfinement noun

Etymology

Origin of confinement

1640–50; confine + -ment; compare French confinement

Example Sentences

This is when “Heel” is at its most alluringly queasy, a dark commentary on all families as institutions inherently built on confinement and emotional blackmail.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2026

A BOP spokesperson said in an emailed statement that the bureau does not discuss conditions of confinement or security procedures and that employee standards of conduct prohibit staff from giving any prisoners preferential treatment.

From Salon • Feb. 19, 2026

Yoon has been held in solitary confinement while fighting multiple criminal trials.

From Barron's • Feb. 19, 2026

This shift empowered Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain exponentially more immigrants without bond, prompting a flood of habeas petitions from those detainees challenging their confinement.

From Slate • Feb. 10, 2026

Dave probably wouldn’t do more than eighteen months home confinement with probation after.

From "Burning Blue" by Paul Griffin

Related Words

• custody
• detention
• incarceration
• internment
• jail
• repression