Entrapment: meaning, definitions and examples

This word is often used in legal or law enforcement contexts when someone is tricked or lured into committing a crime they might not have committed otherwise. It has a negative connotation.

• He was acquitted because the court determined that it was a case of police entrapment.
• The undercover officer's methods were considered entrapment.

Deception is used in general situations where someone is being misled or lied to. It can be applied to personal, professional, or broader contexts. It often has a negative connotation.

• She felt hurt by his deception when she found out he had lied about his past.
• The company's deception was uncovered during the audit.

Trickery is used when describing actions involving tricks or deceit to achieve an aim. It is typically used in lighter, less formal contexts, often implying cunning or cleverness, but still with a negative undertone.

• The magician's trickery amazed the audience.
• They resorted to trickery to win the game.

Manipulation refers to influencing or controlling someone or something to your own advantage, often in a skillful or unfair way. It can be used in personal relationships, business, or social contexts, usually with a negative connotation.

• His emotional manipulation made it difficult for her to make her own decisions.
• The manager's manipulation of the data misled the board about the company's performance.

Used in legal or tricky situations where someone is lured into committing a crime or into a trap.

• The detective was accused of entrapment when he convinced the suspect to buy illegal drugs
• She felt a sense of entrapment when her friends pressured her into joining their scheme

Refers to the state of being kept in a place and not being able to leave. Often used in regard to animals or people in hostile environments.

• The zoo animals are kept in captivity for their own safety
• He was held in captivity by the kidnappers for several months

Describes the state of being restricted or limited in movement, often for safety, punishment, or medical reasons.

• Due to the outbreak, the patients were kept in confinement to prevent the disease from spreading
• The room felt like a place of confinement, with its narrow windows and locked doors

Specifically refers to being imprisoned or jailed as a legal punishment.

• After being found guilty, he faced several years of incarceration
• The documentary highlighted the issue of mass incarceration in the country