confiscation

American  

[kon-fuh-skey-shuhn] / ˌkɒn fəˈskeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. 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.

2. 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

• nonconfiscation noun
• proconfiscation noun

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”; confiscate ( def. ) ) + -iō -ion ( def. )

Example Sentences

The confiscation of the cash and gold and brief detention of the employees is the most severe step Orbán has taken yet in his dispute with Ukraine.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

The track also said the confiscation was done without a warrant or warning.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 20, 2026

“It is in reality an uncompensated confiscation of property,” he wrote.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 10, 2026

The merchants were pushed to protest after police seized some of their wares -- the confiscation of a van caused particular anger.

From Barron's • Oct. 16, 2025

It was understandable; he risked the confiscation of his property by sheltering us.

From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin

Related Words

• appropriation
• expropriation