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.
However, this money would be paid to the state if Murrell is served a confiscation order.
From BBC ● Jun. 4, 2026
In practice, Lord Young is likely to set a confiscation order reflecting the total benefit from the embezzlement and the motorhome's residual value would simply count toward satisfying that broader order.
From BBC ● May 26, 2026
"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
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
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.
