incommunicado

[in-kuh-myoo-ni-kah-doh]

adjective

1. (especially of a prisoner) deprived of any communication with others.

incommunicado

/ ˌɪnkəˌmjuːnɪˈkɑːdəʊ /

adverb

1. (postpositive) deprived of communication with other people, as while in solitary confinement

Word History and Origins

Origin of incommunicado¹

1835–45, < Spanish incomunicado. See in- ³, communicate

Word History and Origins

Origin of incommunicado¹

C19: from Spanish incomunicado, from incomunicar to deprive of communication; see _in- ¹ , _communicate

Example Sentences

Several rghts groups have denounced what they say is a form of incommunicado detention for Palestinian prisoners, hampering the legal defence of detainees.

Read more on Barron's

The Houthis’ security headquarters features jail cells known as “squeezers” that are three feet long and under two feet wide, and hold prisoners incommunicado as loudspeakers broadcast speeches by Al-Houthi, the U.N. says.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

ICE held her incommunicado for 24 hours and then shuffled her through three states before jailing her in Louisiana.

Read more on Salon

They were held incommunicado over several days and repeatedly beaten and questioned about Halimi and his recently publicized yet ambiguous work for the United States.

Read more on Salon

He is believed to be holed up, incommunicado, for the fear of being assassinated by Israel.

Read more on BBC