imprisonment
gb/ɪmpɹˈɪzənmənt/ us/ɪmpɹˈɪzənmənt/
B2
Anglais
~ 5900
Sens
0 sens
Nom
B2
state
1
being held in prison
The state of being kept in prison by the law as a punishment.
Schéma d’usage :
imprisonment for [length of time]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes use *imprisonment* as a countable noun (e.g., *an imprisonment*), but it is almost always uncountable. Use phrases like *a term of imprisonment* instead. Learners may also confuse *imprisonment* (the state of being in prison) with *prison* (the building).
Synonymes
incarceration (Slightly more formal and legal; otherwise very close in meaning.)
|
custody (Can mean being held by authorities without necessarily being in a formal prison or as final punishment.)
Antonymes
freedom (Describes the opposite condition, where a person is not confined or controlled.)
Collocations
life imprisonment
|long-term imprisonment
|term of imprisonment
|imprisonment for life
|imprisonment for ten years
|release from imprisonment
Thèmes
law
|crime
|punishment
|rights
Exemples
- He was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for armed robbery.
- The law allows for life imprisonment in the most serious cases.
- After five years of imprisonment, she was finally released on appeal.
- The report criticizes the widespread use of imprisonment for minor offenses.
- Imprisonment is often seen as a last resort when other punishments have failed.
Exemples pédagogiques
- He is now in imprisonment for five years.
- Life imprisonment means he will never leave prison.
- She fears long imprisonment if she is found guilty.
- The judge gave him two years' imprisonment.
- Imprisonment is a very serious punishment.
Nom
C1
action
2
act of sending to prison
The action of putting someone in prison as a legal punishment.
Schéma d’usage :
the imprisonment of [someone]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners may not realize that *imprisonment* can refer both to the ongoing state and to the initial act. When focusing on the act, it is natural to use patterns like *the imprisonment of [someone]* or *wrongful imprisonment*, rather than *be in imprisonment*.
Synonymes
jailing (More informal and direct; commonly used in news reporting to describe the act of putting someone in jail.)
Antonymes
release (Refers to allowing someone to leave prison or custody, which is the opposite action of imprisonment.)
Collocations
the imprisonment of dissidents
|the imprisonment of journalists
|unlawful imprisonment
|wrongful imprisonment
|indefinite imprisonment
|imprisonment following conviction
Thèmes
law
|crime
|punishment
|rights
Exemples
- The international community condemned the imprisonment of political opponents.
- Her wrongful imprisonment led to a major review of the justice system.
- The law strictly limits the imprisonment of children and young people.
- Activists marched in protest against the imprisonment of peaceful demonstrators.
- He is seeking compensation for his unlawful imprisonment.
Exemples pédagogiques
- Many people protested the imprisonment of the young student.
- The imprisonment of the leader caused anger in the country.
- They spoke out against the imprisonment of journalists.
- He won money after the court decided his imprisonment was wrong.
- They criticized the long imprisonment of people for small crimes.
Nom
C1
state
3
severe restriction on freedom
A situation where someone cannot move or live freely, similar to being in prison, even if there is no real prison.
Schéma d’usage :
imprisonment in [a situation/place]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners may think *imprisonment* always involves a real prison building. In literature and everyday speech, it is often used more generally or metaphorically for any very strong limit on freedom.
Synonymes
confinement (Can be physical or mental; often used where there is strong limitation but not always a formal prison.)
Antonymes
liberation (Stresses being set free from a state of control or restriction.)
Collocations
imprisonment in her own home
|social imprisonment
|emotional imprisonment
|psychological imprisonment
|a kind of imprisonment
|imprisonment in a toxic relationship
Thèmes
emotions
|relationships
|society
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- For years she felt a quiet imprisonment in her unhappy marriage.
- The novel explores the emotional imprisonment of its main character.
- Poverty can create a kind of economic imprisonment, limiting every choice you make.
- He described his childhood as a form of imprisonment in a strict, controlling household.
- The film shows the psychological imprisonment caused by constant surveillance.
Exemples pédagogiques
- She said her life at home felt like imprisonment.
- The book tells a story of emotional imprisonment.
- For him, the small village was a kind of imprisonment.
- Her illness was a long imprisonment in her room.
- He finally escaped the imprisonment of his strict family.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
imprisonment
API
GB/ɪmpɹˈɪzənmənt/
US/ɪmpɹˈɪzənmənt/
Syllabes et accentuation
im - pris - on - ment (4 syllabes)
Stress on 2nd syllable (pris)
Formes du mot
Noun
- Base: imprisonment
- Plural: imprisonment, imprisonments
Famille de mots
Expressions
false imprisonment
1/fˈɔls ɪmpɹˈɪzənmənt/
fixed phrase
technical
illegally keeping someone confined
The crime or civil wrong of holding someone somewhere against their will without legal reason.
Exemples
- She sued the store for false imprisonment after being held in a back room.
- False imprisonment is a serious violation of a person's rights.
- The security guards were charged with false imprisonment.
imprisonment for life
1/ɪmpɹˈɪzənmənt fɚ lˈaɪf/
fixed phrase
formal
being in prison for life
A punishment where a person must stay in prison until they die.
Exemples
- The law allows imprisonment for life in exceptional cases.
- He argued that imprisonment for life is more humane than execution.
- The judge ruled that the crime justified imprisonment for life.
imprisonment without parole
1/ɪmpɹˈɪzənmənt wɪðˈaʊt pɚˈoʊl/
fixed phrase
technical
life in prison, no parole
A punishment where a person must stay in prison for life and can never leave early on parole.
Exemples
- The judge sentenced him to imprisonment without parole.
- In some states, certain crimes carry mandatory imprisonment without parole.
- Human rights groups argue that imprisonment without parole can be inhumane.
life imprisonment
1/lˈaɪf ɪmpɹˈɪzənmənt/
fixed phrase
prison for the rest of life
A punishment where a person must stay in prison for all of their life.
Exemples
- The court sentenced the murderer to life imprisonment.
- In some countries, life imprisonment has replaced the death penalty.
- He faces life imprisonment if found guilty on all charges.
release from imprisonment
1/ɹilˈis fɹˈʌm ɪmpɹˈɪzənmənt/
fixed phrase
letting someone leave prison
The act of letting someone out of prison after they have been kept there.
Exemples
- His release from imprisonment was announced on the evening news.
- The new evidence led to her release from imprisonment.
- They celebrated his release from imprisonment with a small party.
sentence of imprisonment
1/sˈɛntəns əv ɪmpɹˈɪzənmənt/
fixed phrase
formal
official order of prison time
The official decision by a court that someone must go to prison as punishment.
Exemples
- The court imposed a sentence of imprisonment on the defendant.
- A sentence of imprisonment is rarely used for first-time offenders.
- The maximum sentence of imprisonment for this crime is ten years.
term of imprisonment
1/tˈɚm əv ɪmpɹˈɪzənmənt/
fixed phrase
formal
set length of prison time
The set number of months or years that a person must stay in prison as punishment.
Exemples
- The judge imposed a term of imprisonment of five years.
- Her term of imprisonment was reduced on appeal.
- The law sets a maximum term of imprisonment for this offense.
threat of imprisonment
1/θɹˈɛt əv ɪmpɹˈɪzənmənt/
fixed phrase
possibility of prison as pressure
The warning that someone may be sent to prison, used to make them obey a rule or law.
Exemples
- The threat of imprisonment is meant to deter people from committing fraud.
- He paid the fine quickly under the threat of imprisonment.
- For some activists, even the threat of imprisonment will not stop their work.