confinement
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the state of being kept in a place you cannot leave, like a prison or a small room.
the act of keeping someone or something within a restricted space or the state of being so restricted.
Simple“The prisoner was kept in solitary confinement for several weeks.”
In context“After months of confinement in the cramped cabin, the explorers were desperate to reach the shore and stretch their legs.”
UsageOften used in the phrase 'solitary confinement' to describe being kept alone in a cell.
Synonyms - 02 C2 Proficiency
an old word for the time when a woman stays in bed to give birth to a baby.
the period during which a woman is restricted to her bed or home for the purpose of giving birth.
Simple“In the 1800s, women often stayed in their rooms for weeks during their confinement.”
In context“The queen's confinement was expected to begin in early spring, with the royal physicians remaining on constant standby.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is archaic; modern speakers use 'maternity leave' or 'labour' instead.
Synonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
being forced to stay at home or in one place because of a rule or a disease.
the restriction of movement or social interaction, typically imposed as a public health or security measure.
Simple“The city entered a period of confinement to stop the spread of the virus.”
In context“The sudden confinement of the population led to a significant increase in the use of digital communication tools for remote work.”
Synonyms
“He noted that she'd already spent 15 months in solitary confinement at the time of her sentencing.”
“The fire declared in Almonacid de la Sierra in Zaragoza, which initially forced the confinement and then preventive evacuation of Alpartir, is evolving favourably.”
Borrowed from French confinement. By surface analysis, confine + -ment.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.