Sequestration: meaning, definitions and examples

Typically used in legal or financial contexts to describe the act of taking legal possession of assets until a debt has been paid or other demands have been met.

• The court ordered the sequestration of the company's assets to settle outstanding debts.
• Due to environmental concerns, there was a sequestration of certain lands to prevent further damage.

Often used when authorities take property or assets without compensation as a penalty for illegal actions or in breach of regulations. This term can have negative connotations.

• The police carried out a confiscation of illegal weapons from the suspect's home.
• Failure to pay taxes resulted in the confiscation of his car.

Used in legal, medical, or law enforcement contexts to describe suddenly taking control of assets, often due to illegal activities or health-related issues. It may also have negative connotations depending on the context.

• The seizure of counterfeit goods by customs officials took place last night.
• He suffered an epileptic seizure during the meeting.

Suggests the loss of property or rights as a result of a violation of a law or contract. This term generally carries a negative connotation.

• Forfeiture of the deposit occurred because the tenant violated the lease agreement.
• The drug dealer faced forfeiture of his assets following his conviction.

This term is often used in legal, financial, or environmental contexts when something is being taken away or set aside or when referring to the sequestration of carbon dioxide to combat climate change.

• The sequestration of funds led to a budget shortfall for the project
• Policies to enhance carbon sequestration are crucial for reducing greenhouse gases

Isolation is frequently used in medical, psychological, or social contexts to describe the state of being separated from others or something else.

• The patient was kept in isolation to prevent the spread of the virus
• Prolonged isolation can lead to feelings of loneliness and depression

This word is commonly associated with the process of removing something from a larger whole, particularly in medical, industrial, or scientific settings.

• The extraction of the tooth was necessary due to severe decay
• Oil extraction can have significant environmental impacts

Purification is used mainly in contexts where something is being cleaned or refined, such as in water treatment or chemical processes.

• The purification of water is essential for safe drinking supplies
• Purification of the compound was necessary before it could be used in the experiment