imprisonment
being held in prison
The state of being kept in prison by the law as a punishment.
imprisonment for [length of time]
- 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.
- 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.
act of sending to prison
The action of putting someone in prison as a legal punishment.
the imprisonment of [someone]
- 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.
- 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.
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.
imprisonment in [a situation/place]
- 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.
- 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.
- Base: imprisonment
- Plural: imprisonment, imprisonments
false imprisonment
1illegally keeping someone confined
The crime or civil wrong of holding someone somewhere against their will without legal reason.
- 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
1being in prison for life
A punishment where a person must stay in prison until they die.
- 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
1life in prison, no parole
A punishment where a person must stay in prison for life and can never leave early on parole.
- 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
1prison for the rest of life
A punishment where a person must stay in prison for all of their life.
- 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
1letting someone leave prison
The act of letting someone out of prison after they have been kept there.
- 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
1official order of prison time
The official decision by a court that someone must go to prison as punishment.
- 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
1set length of prison time
The set number of months or years that a person must stay in prison as punishment.
- 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
1possibility of prison as pressure
The warning that someone may be sent to prison, used to make them obey a rule or law.
- 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.