incarceration

American  

[in-kahr-suh-rey-shuhn] / ɪnˌkɑr səˈreɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act of incarcerating, or putting in prison or another enclosure.

   The rate of incarceration has increased dramatically.

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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. ); incarcerate ( def. )

Example Sentences

Adapted from European models, it’s a vision of incarceration that is meant to deal with the reality that 95% of people who go to prison are eventually released.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2026

Traditional incarceration, a lock-’em-up and watch-them-suffer approach, has dramatically failed not only our communities and public safety writ large, but also inmates and even those who guard them.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2026

The regime released him from the notorious Helicoide prison in Caracas on Sunday after eight months of incarceration.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 13, 2026

Scotland - which along with other parts of Britain has one of the highest incarceration rates in Europe - has announced several emergency measures in recent years in a bid to cut its prison population.

From BBC • Feb. 3, 2026

In many respects, the reality of mass incarceration is easier to avoid knowing than the injustices and sufferings associated with slavery or Jim Crow.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

Related Words

• captivity
• confinement