confiscated by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "confiscated by" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing an item that has been taken away by an authority or official entity, often due to legal reasons. Example: "The illegal goods were confiscated by the customs officials during the inspection."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The film was confiscated by the police.

The New Yorker

A few days later, they were confiscated by police.

The Guardian - Arts

Even materials they were carrying were confiscated by UN security.

The Guardian - Opinion

Unfortunately, the monitor and footage were confiscated by the police.

The Guardian

However, it was unfortunately confiscated by the MTV PRs.

The Guardian

My half sack of rice was confiscated by the Japanese and I was beaten up.

The New York Times

Their extensive properties in Croatia were confiscated by the Habsburg crown.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Belaúnde immediately returned newspapers that had been confiscated by the military junta to their previous owners.

Encyclopedia Britannica

His property was later confiscated by the National Assembly, and he died in poverty.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The entire show was confiscated by the police on the grounds of obscenity.

Independent

To watch: The detonation of five thousand pounds of illegal fireworks confiscated by the N.Y.P.D.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "confiscated by", ensure that the subject performing the action is an authority or entity with the legal power to take possession of the item. For example, "The drugs were confiscated by the police" is correct.

Common error

Avoid using "confiscated by" when the subject is not an authority or does not have the legal right to take possession. For example, "The toy was confiscated by my brother" is incorrect; use "taken by" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "confiscated by" typically functions as part of a passive construction in a sentence. It indicates that an object or property has been taken away by an authority or official entity. Ludwig confirms that it is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Encyclopedias

15%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "confiscated by" is a grammatically correct and very common passive construction used to indicate that an item has been taken away by an authority. Ludwig confirms its validity. It is most frequently found in news and media, encyclopedias, and wiki sources. When using this phrase, ensure that the subject performing the action is a legitimate authority. Related phrases include "seized by" and "impounded by", though their specific contexts may vary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seized by

Implies a forceful or official taking of something.

impounded by

Typically used when referring to vehicles or goods held by authorities.

appropriated by

Suggests a formal or legal taking, often by a government.

commandeered by

Implies taking something for military or public use, often temporarily.

taken into custody by

Often refers to items taken by law enforcement during an arrest.

forfeited to

Indicates a loss of property as a penalty.

expropriated by

Often used when the government seizes private property for public use.

possessed by

Suggests a change of ownership due to legal reasons.

reclaimed by

Implies taking back something that was previously lost or taken.

recovered by

Suggests finding and taking possession of something stolen or lost.

FAQs

How to use "confiscated by" in a sentence?

Use "confiscated by" to indicate that something has been taken away by an authority. For example: "The illegal weapons were "confiscated by" the customs officials".

What can I say instead of "confiscated by"?

You can use alternatives like "seized by", "impounded by", or "appropriated by" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "confiscated by" or "confiscated from"?

"Confiscated by" indicates who did the confiscating, while "confiscated from" indicates who had the item taken from them. For example: "The contraband was confiscated by the police" versus "The contraband was confiscated from the smuggler".

What's the difference between "confiscated by" and "stolen by"?

"Confiscated by" implies a legal or official action, while "stolen by" implies an illegal act of theft. Authority is also a critical aspect of the term: something is "confiscated by" an authority, versus "stolen by" a thief.