incarceration
- 01 C1 Advanced
the act of putting someone in prison or the state of being a prisoner.
the act of confining a person in a prison or other institution as a legal punishment or for security reasons.
Simple“The judge decided that a long period of incarceration was necessary for the crime.”
In context“The report highlighted the rising rates of incarceration among young adults and suggested alternative rehabilitation programmes instead of prison sentences.”
UsageOften used in academic or legal discussions rather than everyday conversation.
Teacher's tipLearners should use 'prison' or 'jail' in casual speech; 'incarceration' is reserved for formal reports or news.
Synonyms - 02 C2 Proficiency
a medical condition where a part of the body, like a hernia, gets stuck and cannot move back.
the abnormal confinement or constriction of a body part, such as a hernia, preventing it from being reduced or returned to its normal position.
Simple“The doctor was worried about the incarceration of the hernia and ordered surgery.”
In context“Incarceration of the bowel requires immediate surgical intervention to prevent tissue death caused by a lack of blood flow.”
UsageUsually refers to a 'non-reducible' state in surgical contexts.
Teacher's tipThis is a highly specialized term; unless the student is a medical professional, they likely only need to recognize it in recognize it in a clinical setting.
SynonymsconstrictionstrangulationAntonyms
“Those released had been granted “alternative measures from incarceration” under the Program for Peace and Democratic Coexistence, the country’s interim government said on Friday.”
“Over the course of their incarceration, people detained there will never share a visiting room with their families and children, or even sit across from them behind a plexiglass barrier.”
From Medieval Latin incarcerātiō.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.