confiscate

Everyday

1. To take something away from someone, usually as a punishment or because a rule says it is not allowed, often keeping it for a while. tree →
2. (law) For police or the government to take someone's property officially, for example because it was used in a crime. tree →

In the lessons

Very common in school life: a teacher may confiscate a phone, sweets or a toy during class and give it back at the end of the day. In news and stories, police or customs officers confiscate illegal goods, weapons or stolen things. It tells the reader that someone in charge took something by right of a rule. Phrases: «confiscate a phone», «have something confiscated», «confiscated by customs».

Examples

• The teacher confiscated my phone because it rang in maths. tree →
• If you bring that slime to class again, I'll confiscate it. tree →
• My yo-yo was confiscated until home time. tree →
• Customs officers confiscated the fruit at the airport because of the rules on pests. tree →
• Police confiscated the stolen bikes. tree →
• Dad threatened to confiscate the games console if we kept fighting. tree →
• The referee confiscated the ball from the boys who kept kicking it at the windows. tree →
• Everything he had was confiscated or stolen. tree →

Note

Regular verb: confiscated, confiscating. Often used in the passive: «It was confiscated». To confiscate is not the same as to steal: the person taking it has the right to do so under the rules. Stress on the first syllable: CON-fis-cate.