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

Related Words

• appropriate
• expropriate
• impound