Confiscatory Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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confiscatory

[หŒkษ’nหˆfษชskษ™tษ™ri ]

Definition

Context #1 | Adjective

financial

Relating to or effecting confiscation, especially of property.

Synonyms

appropriation, confiscation, seizure.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
confiscatory

Typically used in legal or economic contexts to describe policies or actions that harshly take away property or earnings.

  • The new tax laws have been criticized as overly confiscatory, burdening small businesses.
  • Confiscatory fines can significantly impact someone's financial stability.
seizure

Often used when describing the act of taking control of property or assets forcefully or suddenly, sometimes used in medical contexts as well.

  • The authorities carried out the seizure of the company's assets due to unpaid taxes.
  • The police conducted a seizure of the stolen goods hidden in the warehouse.
appropriation

Used when referring to the act of taking something for one's own use, often without permission, or the legal allocation of funds.

  • The appropriation of cultural artifacts by museums has raised ethical questions.
  • Congress discussed the appropriation of funds for the new infrastructure project.
confiscation

Refers to the act of officially taking someone's property, usually by a government authority, often in a legal context.

  • The government's confiscation of land has affected many farmers.
  • Confiscation of illegal goods is common during customs inspections.

Examples of usage

  • Confiscatory tax policies were implemented to address income inequality.
  • The government's confiscatory measures were met with strong opposition from the public.

Translations

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Interesting Facts

Legal Context

  • Governments may implement confiscatory laws to address tax evasion, taking property to pay owed taxes.
  • Confiscatory actions are often controversial, as they can raise debates about personal rights versus state authority.

Economics

  • Confiscatory taxation refers to very high tax rates that some argue inhibit economic growth.
  • In extreme cases, countries may employ confiscatory policies to wealth distribution during crises.

Cultural References

  • In literature, confiscatory themes might be explored in stories about rebellion against oppressive governments.
  • Movies often depict characters losing their possessions through confiscatory laws, highlighting the struggle against authority.

Historical Examples

  • Historical revolutions, such as the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, included confiscatory measures to redistribute land and wealth.
  • The Prohibition era in the United States saw confiscation of illegal alcohol, revealing social tensions.

Origin of 'confiscatory'

Main points about word origin

  • Derives from the Latin word 'confiscare', which means 'to take away'.
  • The first known use of 'confiscatory' in English occurred around the late 17th century.

The word 'confiscatory' originated from the verb 'confiscate', which came from the Latin word 'confiscatus', past participle of 'confiscare', meaning 'to seize'. The concept of confiscation has been used throughout history as a means of punishment, retribution, or government policy.


See also: confiscation.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #28,417, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.