Meanings
plural internments
- countableuncountableThe state of being imprisoned, usually without trial.
Policies that favor criminalization and internment are promoted over support for social transformation and equity.
1996 September, Randall Halle, “The Seduction of Nazism”, in Gay Community News, page 241 more example
Nevertheless, the economic and emotional effects of the internment were severe, and the United States Government has yet to make good on its promises of reparations.
1989 October 15, Vivien Raynor, “Interned Artists, Devoid of Grievance”, in The New York Times, →ISSN
Synonyms & antonyms
nounthe act of confining someone in a prison (or as if in a prison)
nounplacing private property in the custody of an officer of the law
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
Translations
Arabic اِحْتِجَاز, حَجْز
- اِحْتِجَاز (iḥtijāz)confinement within narrow limits to the interior of a country
- حَجْز (ḥajz)confinement within narrow limits to the interior of a country
- اِعْتِقَال (iʕtiqāl)confinement within narrow limits to the interior of a country
Catalan internament
- internamentconfinement within narrow limits to the interior of a country
French internement
- internementconfinement within narrow limits to the interior of a country
German Internierung
- Internierungconfinement within narrow limits to the interior of a country
Irish imtheorannú
- imtheorannúconfinement within narrow limits to the interior of a country
Persian توقیف
- توقیف (towqif)confinement within narrow limits to the interior of a country
Cite this entry
internment. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/internment
“internment.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/internment. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “internment,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/internment.
Source: internment on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.