Imprisonment: meaning, definitions and examples

This word is used when someone is put in prison as a punishment for a crime. It often has a formal context, especially in legal or judicial settings.

• He faced imprisonment for his role in the robbery
• The judge sentenced her to five years of imprisonment

Incarceration is a more formal and technical term similar to imprisonment. It's often used in official and academic discussions about the justice system.

• The rate of incarceration has increased over the past decade
• She wrote a book about her experiences with incarceration

Detention typically refers to being held temporarily, often before or without a formal trial. It is used in contexts like schools or law enforcement.

• The students were given detention for breaking the rules
• The suspect was held in detention for questioning

Confinement is broader and can refer to being kept in a certain area or situation, not just prison. It can be used in a legal or medical context.

• After his surgery, he was in confinement for several weeks
• Soldiers were held in confinement until the end of the war

Use this term when referring to the state of being kept in prison as a punishment for committing a crime.

• After the trial, he faced ten years of imprisonment

This word is more often used to describe being kept somewhere and not being able to leave, usually in the context of animals or people held by force.

• The wild animals were kept in captivity for research purposes

This term is often used interchangeably with imprisonment but can sometimes refer to being confined or restricted within a particular place or area beyond prison.

• The criminal was sentenced to five years of incarceration
• The government critics faced incarceration for their opposition

Use detention when referring to being kept in a place, especially as a punishment or to prevent freedom of movement, often used with students or prisoners awaiting trial.

• The student was given detention for breaking school rules
• The suspect was held in detention until the court date