What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
captivity
Example
The animals were kept in captivity for research purposes. [captivity: noun]
Example
She lived in captivity for several years before finally escaping. [captivity: noun]
imprisonment
Example
He was sentenced to ten years of imprisonment for his involvement in the robbery. [imprisonment: noun]
Example
She served a short period of imprisonment for her misdemeanor. [imprisonment: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Imprisonment is more commonly used than captivity in everyday language, especially in legal contexts. Imprisonment is primarily used to describe the confinement of humans in correctional facilities. Captivity, on the other hand, is often used in the context of animals or non-human entities being held against their will for various reasons.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between captivity and imprisonment?
Both captivity and imprisonment are formal terms, commonly used in legal and serious discussions. However, imprisonment is more specific to legal contexts and carries a stronger association with punishment, making it slightly more formal than captivity.
