View synonyms for

confiscation

[kon-fuh-skey-shuhn]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

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.
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

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Word History and Origins

Origin of confiscation¹

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin ��ō�Դھ��پ�ō��-, stem of ��ō�Դھ��پ�ō “seizure,” from ��ō�Դھ��(�ܲ�) “seized” (past participle of ��ō�Դھ�� “to seize for the public treasury”; confiscate ( def. ) ) + -��ō -ion ( def. )

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

State and local officials announced charges against three suspects after a traffic stop in Downey led to the confiscation of fentanyl and opium worth an estimated $55 million.

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"�� president ever talks like that? That's not who we are. We're about freedom, democracy, opportunity, not about confiscation," he said.

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Thames Valley Police said it obtained a confiscation order for a "nominal sum" of £1, which allowed a "parallel financial investigation" to be carried out.

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Ms MacVicar feared that if a criminal confiscation order was granted, the remainder of the cash owed would have gone to the Treasury.

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At least one student rebelled, leading to the confiscation of a phone during physical education, reported an 8th-grader at Walter Reed, who asked not to be named.

From

Related Words

appropriation��
expropriation��

confiscate confiscatory

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