verb
confiscate
KON-fihs-kayt
verb
1
To officially take away someone's property, often as a punishment or under legal authority.
"The teacher confiscated his phone during the exam."
"Customs officers confiscated the smuggled goods."
How to Use Confiscate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo take something away from someone by force of authority, usually as a penalty.
Common pairings
confiscate property
confiscate a weapon
goods were confiscated
Word Forms
confiscated past tense, confiscates singular
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Etymology
From Latin cōnfiscō, "to seize for the public treasury" (fiscus).