confiscation

American  

[kon-fuh-skey-shuhn] / ˌkɒn fəˈskeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. 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.

2. 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.

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Other Word Forms

• nonconfiscation noun
• proconfiscation noun

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”; confiscate ( def. ) ) + -iō -ion ( def. )

Example Sentences

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

And the more attention brought to the box via media interviews means more scrutiny may be placed on it, risking its confiscation by city authorities.

From Los Angeles Times

She was however ordered to pay back 12.85 million won in cash and the court also ordered the confiscation of the diamond necklace.

From BBC

The 52-page complaint, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday, offered new details on the confiscation of 26 betting machines on Saturday.

From Los Angeles Times

The 52-page complaint, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, offered new details on the confiscation of 26 betting machines on Saturday.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• appropriation
• expropriation