ENGLISH
REFERENCE

imprisoned

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˌɪmˈpɹɪzənd// UK //ɪmpɹˈɪzənd// im·pris·oned

v. to put someone in a prison or a place they cannot leave. It is often used when a government or a court punishes someone for a crime.

v. to confine someone in a prison or place of captivity as a legal punishment or by force. The past participle form is frequently used as an adjective to describe a person's status.


SIMPLE

The judge decided to imprison the thief for five years.

CONTEXTUAL

The government was criticized for its decision to imprison political activists without a fair trial or legal representation.

COMPLEX

While the state has the power to imprison those who violate the social contract, modern legal systems must balance this authority against the fundamental human rights of the accused.

Synonyms
Usage

The verb is transitive and requires a direct object.

Pitfall

He was prisoned for his crimes.He was imprisoned for his crimes.Learners often use the noun 'prison' as a verb, but the correct verb form is 'imprison'.

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