incarceration
n. uncountable C1 Advanced US //ˌɪnˌkɑɹsɝˈeɪʃən// UK //ɪnkˌɑːsəɹˈeɪʃən// in·car·cer·a·tion
n. the act of putting someone in prison or keeping them in a place they cannot leave.
n. the state of being confined in prison; the act of imprisoning a person. Often used in legal or sociological contexts to discuss the penal system.
The judge sentenced the man to five years of incarceration.
Studies show that high rates of incarceration can have a lasting negative impact on local communities.
The reform group argues that mandatory minimum sentences have led to a significant increase in the national incarceration rate without necessarily improving public safety.
From Medieval Latin incarcerātiō.
Usage
Often used in formal or legal contexts; frequently paired with 'rate' or 'mass' ('mass incarceration').