incarceration
Americannoun
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. ); see incarcerate ( def. )
Explanation
Incarceration is the state of being in prison. If you don't fancy incarceration, don't go through with that bank heist. The noun incarceration comes from the Latin word carcer, meaning "jail." There are many different types of incarceration. If you commit a crime and get locked up, that's one form of incarceration. Some people might feel that school is a form of incarceration. Some highly religious people think of the body as an incarceration of the spirit. A great synonym for this word is captivity.
Vocabulary lists containing incarceration
Just Mercy
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They Called Us Enemy
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Turtles All the Way Down
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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.
Incarceration, they contended, was a de facto death sentence given his age and ill health, and his lack of short-term memory meant he would have no understanding of why he was behind bars.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 17, 2025
The Nation of Islam follower and convicted murderer was released in 2020 as part of the Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act.
From Washington Times • Sep. 20, 2023
Superior Court judge for early release under a D.C. law, known as the Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act, or IRAA.
From Washington Post • Feb. 1, 2023
The event, “From Mass Incarceration to Mass Liberation,” featured speakers from the Black Prisoners’ Caucus, a more than 50-year-old organization to foster “respect, responsibility, self worth and unity” for people incarcerated in Washington state prisons.
From Seattle Times • Jan. 16, 2023
Warren Judson Brier, who has done substantial literary work before coming to the West, recently had published in the National Magazine The Incarceration of Ambrose Broadhead, a strong appeal for needed reform.
From A Hundred and Sixty Books by Washington Authors Some Other Writers Who are Contributors to Periodical Literature, Lines Worth Knowing by Heart by Various
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.
