confiscated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "confiscated" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of taking something away from someone, typically by authority or law enforcement. Example: "The authorities confiscated the illegal goods during the raid."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

(Mohamad Ajub, 22, a farmer from Ghazni province) "My house was confiscated by a Chechen jihadi after the advance of the Islamic State through Riqa".

The Guardian

Any medication they are carrying when they arrive is also confiscated – and often it is months before it is replaced.

The Guardian - Opinion

The passports of many peaceful activists were confiscated.

The Guardian

We all want our icons in the desert, but let's face it, your construction workers will probably do a better job if they're not living in squalor, 10 men to a room, trapped in labour camps with their passports confiscated, working for a year just to pay back their recruitment fees.

The Guardian - Arts

While looted artworks are meant to be returned to the heirs of their owners, there is only a non-binding "moral obligation" to return those pieces which were confiscated as "degenerate art" and then sold on.

The Guardian

He said having his passport confiscated "didn't matter".

The Guardian

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

The Guardian

The government provided people with coupons for basic food items, which the FSA confiscated for themselves.

The Guardian

"The punishment of young women occurred more often when they were perceived to have lied or, say, were arrested and the drugs they were holding for other people were confiscated," said Firmin.

The Guardian

The hearing was then moved into a larger venue, where court police kept a close eye on journalists trying to use their mobile phones – which is against the rules – and issued stern threats that they would be confiscated.

The Guardian

This follows evidence collected by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), which represents workers' rights around the world, that migrant workers were being paid lower-than-expected wages, having their passports confiscated, trafficked for forced labour and living in cramped conditions.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "confiscated" when you want to emphasize that something was taken away, especially by an authority, due to a rule or law.

Common error

Avoid using "confiscated" when something is simply stolen. "Confiscated" implies legal or official authority, while "stolen" implies a criminal act without such authority.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "confiscated" is as the past participle form of the verb 'confiscate'. Ludwig AI confirms that it is used to describe an action where something has been taken away by authority. Examples from Ludwig show it modifying nouns, indicating the state of having been taken.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "confiscated" is the past participle of the verb 'confiscate', indicating that something has been taken away, typically by an authority. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used, especially in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. While synonyms like "seized", "impounded", and "forfeited" exist, "confiscated" specifically implies an action based on rules or laws. Remember to use "confiscated" to denote the act of taking something away using authority, and avoid misusing it when something is simply "stolen". The word is very common and generally understood in multiple contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Seized

A more general term for taking possession, often by force or legal authority, less specific about the reason.

Impounded

Specifically refers to taking something into legal custody, such as a vehicle.

Forfeited

Implies a loss of ownership as a penalty for wrongdoing.

Sequestrated

Often used in legal contexts for temporarily taking control of assets.

Appropriated

Taking something for one's own use, sometimes without permission.

Impounded by authorities

Emphasizes the role of authorities in the act of confiscation.

Taken into custody

Focuses on the action of taking something or someone into official control.

Legally seized

Highlights the legal aspect of the seizure.

Possession was taken

A passive voice construction emphasizing the change of ownership.

Deprived of

A broader term indicating a loss of something, not necessarily through official action.

FAQs

How is "confiscated" used in a sentence?

Use "confiscated" to describe the act of taking something away from someone, usually by an authority. For example, "The police "confiscated" the illegal weapons."

What's a synonym for "confiscated"?

Alternatives to "confiscated" include "seized", "impounded", or "forfeited" depending on the specific context.

What is the difference between "confiscated" and "stolen"?

"Confiscated" implies that something was taken by someone in a position of authority, whereas "stolen" implies that something was taken illegally without authority. You can say that someone had their passport "confiscated", or that they had their wallet "stolen".

Can "confiscated" apply to abstract concepts?

No, "confiscated" typically applies to physical objects or tangible items. It's less common to use "confiscated" for abstract concepts like rights or freedoms.