are confiscated from

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are confiscated from" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing the act of taking something away from someone, typically by authority or law enforcement. Example: "The illegal items are confiscated from individuals who violate the regulations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

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

The New York Times

UNION CITY, N.J., Oct. 8 — A ban on iPods is so strictly enforced at José Martí Middle School that as many as three a week are confiscated from students — and returned only to their parents.

The New York Times

Although various studies have shown that black market products frequently do not contain the declared substances, enormous amounts of illegally produced and/or imported drugs are confiscated from athletes or at customs with alarming results concerning the outcome of the analyses of the ingredients.

Growth Hormone & IGF Research

"Many victims of forced marriage are taken abroad, and telephones are confiscated from them.

BBC

Born Free has been working to conserve cheetahs across Africa and to rescue individual animals in need when they are confiscated from the pet trade, especially those who end up in places like Somaliland on their way to Yemen and elsewhere in the Middle East.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Officials said a homemade knife was confiscated from him last fall.

The New York Times

All three were confiscated from the market on Tuesday.

The New York Times

Already this season, wrenches have been confiscated from fans.

The New York Times - Sports

Nikolyuk displayed an automatic rifle that he said had been confiscated from Yerofeyev.

The Guardian

In Britain stolen credits could be confiscated from people who have bought them in good faith.

The Economist

The items were confiscated from small retailers, swap meets, flea markets, ports and warehouses.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "are confiscated from", ensure that the context clearly indicates the authority or entity doing the confiscating. This adds clarity and credibility to your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "are confiscated from" in sentences where the actor performing the confiscation is unclear. Always specify who is doing the confiscating to avoid ambiguity and maintain clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are confiscated from" functions as a passive construction, indicating that something is being taken away from someone by an authority. This emphasizes the object being taken rather than the actor performing the confiscation. Ludwig provides examples where items like "drugs" and "iPods" are being confiscated.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "are confiscated from" is a grammatically sound passive construction used to describe the act of something being taken away by an authority. As noted by Ludwig, this phrase commonly appears in contexts related to law enforcement, regulations, and the seizure of items. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, it is relatively rare in occurrence. When using this phrase, it is important to ensure the context clearly indicates who is doing the confiscating, as well as to explore related alternatives like "are seized from" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are seized from

Focuses on the act of taking something, often implying legal authority.

are taken away from

Emphasizes the removal of something, but is more general and can apply to various situations beyond legal confiscation.

are impounded from

Specifically refers to the seizure of vehicles or other property by authorities.

are reclaimed from

Suggests that something is being taken back, often implying a previous ownership or right.

are appropriated from

Implies the taking of something for one's own use, often by a governing body or organization.

are expropriated from

Refers to the formal taking of private property for public use, often with compensation.

are extracted from

Implies the removal of something through effort or force, often in a scientific or industrial context.

are divested from

Suggests the forced selling of assets or holdings.

are dispossessed of

Highlights the act of depriving someone of possession, often land or property.

are retrieved from

Implies the recovery of something that was lost or stolen, but does not necessarily involve legal action.

FAQs

What does "are confiscated from" mean?

The phrase "are confiscated from" refers to the act of having something taken away, usually by an authority, as a result of breaking a rule or law. The item is removed from the possession of the individual or entity that had it.

What can I say instead of "are confiscated from"?

You can use alternatives like "are seized from", "are taken away from", or "are impounded from depending on the context".

Is it correct to say "were confiscated from"?

Yes, "were confiscated from" is the past tense plural form and is correct when referring to multiple items or instances in the past. The choice between "are" and "were" depends on whether you are referring to a present or past action.

What is the difference between "are confiscated from" and "are retrieved from"?

"Are confiscated from" implies that something is taken away by an authority because of a violation or rule-breaking, while "are retrieved from" suggests that something is recovered or found after being lost or misplaced. The former involves an element of penalty or enforcement, while the latter focuses on recovery.