interned

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "interned" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to refer to the act of confining someone, often in a camp or prison, especially during wartime or for political reasons. Example: "During the war, many citizens were interned due to their ethnic backgrounds."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

More than 250,000 have been displaced by the fighting and interned by the government in camps, to which the access of the international humanitarian agencies is still restricted.The ICRC has been excluded from the area of north-eastern Sri Lanka hardest hit by fighting in recent weeks.

The Economist

He was born in South Africa and grew up in England and Wales; one grandfather is buried in Hong Kong, and his dad was interned by the Japanese during the Second World War.

The Guardian - Music

Coppard, the amiable son of a former chief executive of Barnsley council, was once an office junior for another Sheffield MP, Meg Munn, and like many of the new Labour generation he loves American politics, having interned in Congress and worked on Obama's second presidential campaign.

The Guardian

During the three years that I was interned by the Japanese my reading followed a new set of fracture lines.

The Guardian - Books

The first foreign nationals were interned under the act on 19 December 2001.

The Guardian - Opinion

On news of the Nablus killings, thousands of people stormed the gates of a PA prison in Nablus, demanding the release of Hamas prisoners interned as part of Mr Arafat's now futile ceasefire.

The Economist

She had a message for them from Marta Ugarte, another of the many communist leaders interned there.

The Economist

The ruthlessness with which his government prosecuted the final stages of the war, and then interned some 300,000 Tamils for months, alienated many in the West.

The Economist

They also served The wild bunch Handicapped The baseball-card bubble Only fools and horses The loneliness of Tony Blair ReprintsReleased after a few months on account of his youth (aged just 17, he should never have been interned), he studied statistics instead of commerce at the London School of Economics, and graduated with a stellar first.

The Economist

The camps where 330,000 displaced people were interned after the war were closed to most outside scrutiny.

The Economist

In Vavuniya, where most of the 170,000 Tamil fugitives from the war-zone have been interned in government-run camps, field-hospitals are swamped with the wounded.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about historical events, use "interned" to specifically denote confinement for political or security reasons, especially in wartime. This avoids confusion with other forms of imprisonment.

Common error

Avoid using "interned" and "imprisoned" as direct synonyms. "Interned" typically refers to detention without trial, often during wartime, while "imprisoned" suggests confinement following a legal conviction.

Linguistic Context

The word "interned" primarily functions as a past participle or past tense verb. It describes the action of being confined or detained, typically for political or military reasons, as evidenced by the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Encyclopedias

12%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "interned" is a past tense and past participle verb typically used to describe the act of confining someone, particularly during wartime or for political reasons. As indicated by Ludwig, the word is grammatically correct and frequently appears in news, historical, and encyclopedic contexts. While alternatives like "detained" or "imprisoned" exist, "interned" specifically denotes confinement without trial, often in camps. When using the term, ensure it accurately reflects the context to avoid confusion with other forms of detention.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

detained

Focuses on the act of holding someone back, often temporarily.

imprisoned

Highlights being held in a prison, typically after a conviction.

confined

Emphasizes the restriction of movement within a space.

incarcerated

Similar to imprisoned, but may carry a more formal or legal tone.

held in custody

Focuses on the legal aspect of being detained by authorities.

placed in a camp

Specifically refers to being held in a designated camp, often during wartime.

restricted

Highlights the limitation of freedom or movement.

impounded

Often used for objects, but can metaphorically apply to people being held.

sequestered

Implies isolation or separation from others.

taken into detention

Describes the act of being taken into custody.

FAQs

How is "interned" typically used in a sentence?

The word "interned" is generally used to describe the act of confining someone, often during wartime or for political reasons. For instance, "During World War II, many Japanese Americans were "interned" in camps."

What are some alternatives to the word "interned"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "detained", "confined", or "imprisoned". Each carries slightly different connotations.

What is the difference between "interned" and "imprisoned"?

"Interned" typically refers to the confinement of people, often without trial, for political or security reasons during wartime. "Imprisoned", on the other hand, usually refers to confinement as a result of a criminal conviction.

Is it appropriate to use "interned" when referring to refugees?

While "interned" can be used to describe the confinement of refugees, it's essential to consider the sensitivity of the term. Alternatives like "housed in camps" or "accommodated" may be more appropriate depending on the context.