What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
impound
Example
The police impounded the suspect's car as evidence. [impounded: past tense]
Example
The animal control officer impounded the stray dog for public safety. [impounded: verb]
repossess
Example
The bank repossessed the car after the owner failed to make payments. [repossessed: past tense]
Example
The landlord had to repossess the apartment after the tenant violated the lease agreement. [repossess: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Repossess is more commonly used than impound in everyday language, especially in the context of finance and property. Impound is less common and is usually used in specific contexts such as animal control or law enforcement.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between impound and repossess?
Repossess is more formal than impound and is often used in legal or business contexts. Impound is more casual and is often used in everyday conversation or news reports.