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

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

Whether it’s unjust incarceration, mass layoffs or topics centered around tech’s automation of jobs, “asses.masses,” despite generally lasting more than seven hours — yes, seven-plus hours — is a work of urgency.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 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

CoreCivic doesn’t lobby for or against policies or legislation affecting incarceration durations and offers the greatest value to the government for detaining immigrants, said Senior Director of Public Affairs Ryan Gustin.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 3, 2026

One way of understanding our current system of mass incarceration is to think of it as a birdcage with a locked door.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

Related Words

• captivity
• confinement