confiscation
Americannoun
-
the act, as a penalty, of seizing or appropriating something for public use or for ownership by the state.
The government introduced a bill allowing the confiscation of property belonging to foreign states.
-
the act of seizing something by or as if by authority.
In order to avoid confiscation of their cell phones under the strict new rule, many teens only became more secretive about using them.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of confiscation
First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin cōnfiscātiōn-, stem of cōnfiscātiō “seizure,” from cōnfiscāt(us) “seized” (past participle of cōnfiscāre “to seize for the public treasury”; see confiscate ( def. )) + -iō -ion ( def. )
Vocabulary lists containing confiscation
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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.
"Those who use property tainted by a past confiscation," Thomas said, are "liable to any United States national who owns a claim to that property."
From Barron's • May 21, 2026
And the more attention brought to the box via media interviews means more scrutiny may be placed on it, risking its confiscation by city authorities.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 4, 2026
“It is in reality an uncompensated confiscation of property,” he wrote.
From MarketWatch • Jan. 10, 2026
Opponents say it is an unfair confiscation of wealth that will drive talent from the state.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 6, 2026
It was understandable; he risked the confiscation of his property by sheltering us.
From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin
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.
