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

After administrators told teachers they were “off the hook” for financial responsibility for confiscated devices, it helped relieve “lots of anxiety,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times

However, a court ruled the government did not have a warrant to confiscate the items and a law prohibiting their sale was only passed later, making the seizure unlawful.

From BBC

Los Angeles County sheriff’s investigators subsequently tracked the emerald to a Las Vegas vault, but since they could not sort out who owned the gem, they confiscated it.

From Los Angeles Times

Police detained him and confiscated his electronic devices.

From BBC

Charity The Loop will operate at Drumsheds in London and the Warehouse Project in Manchester, checking any confiscated or surrendered substances.

From BBC

Related Words

• appropriate
• expropriate
• impound