What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
expropriate
Example
The government decided to expropriate the land to build a new highway. [expropriate: verb]
Example
The company was expropriated by the government due to financial irregularities. [expropriated: past participle]
confiscate
Example
The police confiscated the illegal drugs found in his possession. [confiscated: past tense]
Example
The security officer confiscated the knife at the airport security checkpoint. [confiscate: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Confiscate is more commonly used than expropriate in everyday language. Confiscate is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while expropriate is less common and usually used in legal or formal contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between expropriate and confiscate?
Expropriate is a more formal word than confiscate. It is usually used in legal or official contexts, while confiscate can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
