are confiscated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are confiscated" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where items or possessions are taken away by authority, often in legal or regulatory situations. Example: "Any items deemed illegal are confiscated by the authorities during the inspection."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Often cows are confiscated for a day.

The Guardian

Cars without proper registration are confiscated and impounded — Guantánamo bound.

The New York Times

Glasses, hearing aids and prosthetics are confiscated and often destroyed.

The Guardian

Now mobile phones are confiscated at the airport.

The Guardian

Fitting said in the interview that between 5 and 25 signs are confiscated each week.

The New York Times - Sports

Their winnings are confiscated, he said, and the company will "provide compensation to players when appropriate".

The New York Times - Science

In many cases personal computers are confiscated at crime scenes or pursuant to warrants.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The TSA says that roughly 40 guns are confiscated at transport checkpoints each week, reports Wired.

Independent

Items are confiscated at the border under the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES).

Independent

Dishes and receivers are confiscated, or bribes are demanded for a blind eye to be turned.

The Guardian - Travel

The two governments also agreed to share assets that are confiscated from criminal organizations.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "are confiscated", ensure the context clearly indicates the authority or entity doing the confiscating. For example, "The illegal goods are confiscated by customs officials."

Common error

Avoid using "are confiscated" without specifying who is doing the confiscating. This can create ambiguity and weaken the sentence. Instead of "Items are confiscated", specify "Items are confiscated by the police."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are confiscated" functions as the passive voice of the verb "confiscate". This structure is used when the focus is on the object being acted upon rather than the actor. Ludwig confirms this, as shown in numerous examples where items or assets are confiscated by authorities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "are confiscated" is a common and grammatically correct passive voice construction used to describe the act of seizing items or assets by an authority. As noted by Ludwig, the phrase is most frequently found in news and media, as well as academic contexts, indicating its suitability for formal and factual reporting. To ensure clarity, it's important to specify the authority or entity performing the confiscation. While alternatives like ""are seized"" exist, "are confiscated" specifically implies a legal or regulatory basis for the action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are seized

Direct synonym, emphasizing the act of taking possession.

are impounded

Specifically refers to official seizure, often of vehicles or documents.

are appropriated

Suggests taking something for one's own use, often by a government or organization.

are impounded and held

Emphasizes both the act of seizure and the ongoing holding of the item.

are taken into custody

Implies a more formal and legal process of taking control.

are forfeited

Indicates a loss of ownership due to a violation or offense.

are requisitioned

Implies a formal demand for something, often during wartime or emergencies.

are expropriated

Typically refers to government taking private property for public use.

are commandeered

Suggests taking control of something, often temporarily and for military purposes.

are sequestered

Means to isolate or hide away, often in a legal context.

FAQs

How can I use "are confiscated" in a sentence?

Use "are confiscated" to describe items taken away by an authority. For example, "The illegal weapons "are confiscated" by the police" or "Mobile phones "are confiscated" at the entrance".

What's a good alternative to "are confiscated"?

Alternatives include "are seized", "are impounded", or "are taken", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use the active or passive voice with "confiscate"?

While "are confiscated" (passive) is common, using the active voice can be more direct. For instance, instead of "The drugs are confiscated by the DEA", you could say "The DEA confiscates the drugs".

What is the difference between "are confiscated" and "are seized"?

"Are confiscated" typically implies legal authority, while ""are seized"" is a more general term for taking possession, which might not always involve legal processes. Both describe a situation where something is being taken.