incarceration

[ in-kahr-suh-rey-shuhn ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

the act of incarcerating, or putting in prison or another enclosure:
The rate of incarceration has increased dramatically.

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Word History and Origins

First recorded in 1530–40; from French incarcération, from Latin incarcerātiōn-, stem of incarcerātiō, equivalent to incarcerāt(us), past participle of incarcerāre “to imprison” + -iō -ion ( def ); incarcerate ( def )

Related Words

captivity
confinement

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