confiscate — to take someone's property away from them, especially as a punishment or because the property is illegal
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to take someone's property away from them, especially as a punishment or because the property is illegal
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈkɑːnfɪskeɪt/
Example Sentences
- The airport security confiscated my grandmother's knitting needles, calling them 'potential weapons.'
- Police confiscated over 100 counterfeit designer bags from the illegal market.
- My mom confiscated my gaming console after I failed my math test.
confiscate
VERB[/ˈkɑːnfɪskeɪt/]
to take someone's property away from them, especially as a punishment or because the property is illegal
Principal confiscating student's phone
Break the rules, and they'll confiscate your certificate to demonstrate!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Latin confiscare, meaning 'to put into the treasury.' The term originated in Roman legal practice, where the state would seize the property of condemned criminals and transfer it to the imperial treasury as punishment.
Breakdown
con- (together) + fiscus (treasury, state funds) + -ate (verb suffix), literally meaning 'to put together into the state treasury.'
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The airport security confiscated my grandmother's knitting needles, calling them 'potential weapons.'”
“Police confiscated over 100 counterfeit designer bags from the illegal market.”
“My mom confiscated my gaming console after I failed my math test.”
“The customs officer confiscated the tourist's exotic pet snake at the border.”
📚Related Words
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