Imprisonment
ɪmˈprɪz.ən.mənt
Definitions
The act of putting someone in prison or the state of being in prison.
ɪmˈprɪz.ən.mənt
The state of being imprisoned; confinement.
The witness feared imprisonment if he testified.
💡 Simply: Imagine you did something wrong, and now you have to stay inside a special building (prison) for a while. Imprisonment is when someone is kept in that building. It’s like when you can’t go outside to play because you're grounded, but much, much longer!
👶 For kids: Being locked up in jail.
More Examples
The court handed down a sentence of imprisonment for the crime.
The conditions of his imprisonment were harsh and inhumane.
How It's Used
"The defendant faced a possible sentence of imprisonment."
"Political prisoners were often subjected to long periods of imprisonment."
Idioms & expressions
life imprisonment
A prison sentence for the rest of a person's life.
"The judge sentenced the killer to life imprisonment."
wrongful imprisonment
The unlawful confinement of a person.
"The man was awarded compensation for wrongful imprisonment."
From Middle English *empresonement*, from Old French *emprisonement* (imprisonment), from *emprisoner* (to imprison).
The term has been used throughout history in legal and social contexts, reflecting the practice of incarceration.
Memory tip
Think of being in a prism – trapped by its walls, just like in imprisonment.