confiscate

[ verb kon-fuh-skeyt; adjective kuhn-fis-kit ]

verb (used with object)

, con·fis·cat·ed, con·fis·cat·ing.

1. to seize as forfeited to the public domain; appropriate, by way of penalty, for public use.
2. to seize by or as if by authority; appropriate summarily:

   The border guards confiscated our movie cameras.

adjective

1. seized or appropriated, as for public use.

confiscate

/ ˈkɒnfɪˌskeɪt /

verb

1. to seize (property), esp for public use and esp by way of a penalty

adjective

1. seized or confiscated; forfeit
2. having lost or been deprived of property through confiscation

Derived Forms

• ˌconfisˈcation, noun
• ˈconfisˌcator, noun

Other Words From

• con·fis·cat·a·ble adjective
• con·fis·ca·tion [kon-f, uh, -, skey, -sh, uh, n], noun
• con·fis·ca·tor noun
• re·con·fis·cate verb (used with object) reconfiscated reconfiscating
• un·con·fis·cat·ed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of confiscate¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin confiscātus “seized,” past participle of confiscāre “to seize for the public treasury,” equivalent to con- con- + fisc(us) “basket, moneybag, public treasury” ( fiscal ) + -āre, verb infinitive suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of confiscate¹

C16: from Latin confiscāre to seize for the public treasury, from fiscus basket, treasury

Example Sentences

An Israeli government minister wants to confiscate UNRWA’s headquarters in occupied East Jerusalem to use the land for a Jewish settlement.

From BBC

On the campaign, trail Harris has said that although she wants to ban assault weapons, she does not want to confiscate all firearms.

From Los Angeles Times

But most politicians who advocate a ban have emphasized that buybacks would be voluntary to avoid accusations that they want “to confiscate your guns,” as Trump said of Harris during the debate.

From Los Angeles Times

I observed women twice my age — at the front of my classrooms or dining in my favorite vegan restaurant — in their flowing garments and artistic jewelry and feared that someday, when I was old and wizened like them, a mysterious authority would swoop in to confiscate my miniskirts and stilettos and torn-up sweaters and issue me a new wardrobe of linen pants and drapey cardigans and flat shoes from Clarks.

From Los Angeles Times

Harris denied a Trump claim that she would "confiscate everybody's gun" if elected to the White House, pointing out that both she and her running-mate Tim Walz, a hunting enthusiast, had firearms of their own.

From BBC

Related Words

• appropriate
• expropriate
• impound