solitary confinement

American  

[sol-i-ter-ee kuhn-fahyn-muhnt] / ˈsɒl ɪˌtɛr i kənˈfaɪn mənt /

noun

1. the confinement of a prisoner in a cell or other place in which they are completely isolated from others.

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solitary confinement British  

noun

1. isolation imposed on a prisoner, as by confinement in a special cell

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Etymology

Origin of solitary confinement

First recorded in 1775–85

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

solitary confinement

Both he and Brock reported extended solitary confinement stints—four months for Mock, seven for Brock.

From Slate ● May 28, 2026

Seven years later, Gonzales was transferred to Pelican Bay State Prison’s Security Housing Unit, then the most restrictive facility in California, where he was held in solitary confinement for about 25 years.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 5, 2026

Yoon has been held in solitary confinement while fighting multiple criminal trials.

From Barron's ● Feb. 19, 2026

He is in ill health and has spent most of the last five years in solitary confinement, the lone window fixed to block sunlight.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 9, 2026

But that night, she let Grace and Kojo visit him in solitary confinement.

From "The Smartest Kid in the Universe" by Chris Grabenstein