incarceration

[ in-kahr-suh-rey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act of incarcerating, or putting in prison or another enclosure:

   The rate of incarceration has increased dramatically.

Word History and Origins

Origin of incarceration¹

First recorded in 1530–40; from French incarcération, from Latin incarcerātiōn-, stem of incarcerātiō, equivalent to incarcerāt(us), past participle of incarcerāre “to imprison” + -iō -ion ( def ); incarcerate ( def )

Related Words

• captivity
• confinement