confiscate

[US]/ˈkɒnfɪskeɪt/
[UK]/ˈkɑːnfɪskeɪt/
Frequency: Very High

Translation

vt. seize as forfeited to the public treasury; appropriate, by way of penalty or forfeit, to the public use or treasury; to take possession of by authority

Phrases & Collocations

confiscate property

confiscate contraband

confiscate illegal goods

Example Sentences

the guards confiscated his camera.

The customs officials confiscated the contraband.

Rigo had confiscated Robin's ligeance so that he had to move away.

The teacher confiscated my radio because I was playing it in the classroom.

A talentless street musician in the Dutch town of Leiden got local people so upset by his awful saxophone playing that they got police to confiscate his instrument.

The police had to confiscate the illegal drugs.

Customs officers confiscated the smuggled goods at the border.

The teacher confiscated the students' cell phones during the exam.

The security guard confiscated the unauthorized items at the entrance.

The government has the authority to confiscate private property for public use.

The court ordered to confiscate the criminal's assets.

The airline may confiscate liquids over 100ml at security checkpoints.

The school policy allows teachers to confiscate inappropriate items from students.

The customs officials confiscated the counterfeit goods at the port.

The museum curator decided to confiscate the stolen artifacts from the thief.

Real-world Examples

15.the smuggled articles must be confiscated.

Source: Maritime English listening

The police said the car had been confiscated from criminals.

Source: BBC Listening Collection July 2022

The necessary documentation is being confiscated. Forensic examinations have been set up.

Source: PBS English News

He probably suspected what it was, though, or he wouldn't have confiscated it.”

Source: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

She even says her passport was confiscated.

Source: CNN 10 Student English February 2018 Collection

Confiscating contraband is part of my new job at school.

Source: Modern Family Season 9

Apparently the Espinosas had access to a veritable arsenal which nobody had cared to confiscate.

Source: Biography of Famous Historical Figures

We came here and confiscated their homeland.

Source: America The Story of Us

I expect they believe the NYPD confiscated it.

Source: American TV series Person of Interest Season 4

Botanists are trying to save the confiscated endangered plants.

Source: VOA Standard English (Video Version) - 2023 Collection

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