Confiscate

Pronunciation: /ˈkɑnfɪˌskeɪt/

Definitions of confiscate

verb to take or seize (someone's property) with authority; to confiscate something

Example Sentences

A1 The teacher confiscated the student's phone during class.

A2 The security guard confiscated the prohibited items at the entrance.

B1 The customs officer confiscated the illegal drugs hidden in the luggage.

B2 The police confiscated the stolen goods from the suspect's house.

C1 The government decided to confiscate the assets of the corrupt businessman.

C2 The dictator used his power to confiscate the properties of his political opponents.

Examples of confiscate in a Sentence

formal The police have the authority to confiscate any illegal items found during a search.

informal I heard they confiscated all the snacks at the movie theater.

slang The teacher confiscated my phone because I was texting in class.

figurative Sometimes, it feels like life has a way of confiscating all our hopes and dreams.

Grammatical Forms of confiscate

• past tense: confiscated
• plural: confiscates
• comparative: more confiscating
• superlative: most confiscating
• present tense: confiscate
• future tense: will confiscate
• perfect tense: has confiscated
• continuous tense: is confiscating
• singular: confiscate
• positive degree: confiscate
• infinitive: to confiscate
• gerund: confiscating
• participle: confiscating

Origin and Evolution of confiscate

First Known Use: 1530 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'confiscate' originated from the Latin word 'confiscatus', which is the past participle of 'confiscare' meaning 'to seize or confiscate'.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'confiscate' has retained its original meaning of seizing or taking possession of something, but has also come to be used in legal contexts to refer to the act of taking someone's property as a penalty or punishment.