confiscate Definition
to take someone's property with authority, especially as a punishment.
Using confiscate: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "confiscate" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The police confiscated his passport.
Example
The customs officer confiscated the smuggled goods.
Example
The teacher confiscated the student's phone.
confiscate Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for confiscate
Antonyms for confiscate
- return
- give back
Phrases with confiscate
to take something away from someone, usually by legal authority
Example
The police confiscated the drugs from the suspect.
to take someone's property away, usually by legal authority
Example
The government can confiscate property if the owner fails to pay taxes.
to take someone's assets away, usually by legal authority
Example
The court ordered the company to confiscate the CEO's assets.
Origins of confiscate
from Latin 'confiscare', meaning 'to seize'
Summary: confiscate in Brief
The verb 'confiscate' [ˈkɒnfɪskeɪt] means to take someone's property with authority, especially as a punishment. It is often used in legal and official contexts, such as when the police or customs officers confiscate illegal items. Examples include 'The police confiscated his passport' and 'The teacher confiscated the student's phone.'