Spanish Conversation · Level 93
60 words
Spanish word
decomisar
Pronunciation
IPA/dekomiˈsaɾ/
Meaning
- verbconfiscate
Example
La policía decomisó los pasaportes falsos.
The police confiscated the fake passports.
More examples
En el aeropuerto decomisaron varios dispositivos electrónicos por seguridad.
At the airport, several electronic devices were confiscated for security reasons.
Core concept
Authorities seizing and placing suspected illegal goods into official custody.
Common phrases
decomisar documentos
confiscate documents
decomisar pasaportes
confiscate passports
decomisar equipaje
confiscate luggage
Similar words
confiscar: Officially seize illegal goods or illicit profits under legal authority.
retener: Temporarily hold a person or item by preventing movement or return.
incautar: Seize suspicious items as evidence for an investigation and secure them.
embargar: Legally seize or freeze property to block its sale or transfer due to unpaid taxes or debts.
Definition in Spanish
Confiscar o incautar por parte de autoridades objetos, mercancías o documentos cuando existe sospecha de ilegalidad o por mandato judicial o administrativo; verbo transitivo.
Word origin
The word comes from medieval Spanish comiso 'seized item' with the prefix de- and ultimately from Latin commissum, the past participle of committere 'to entrust'.
Usage tips
- Mainly used in police, customs, and judicial contexts and frequently appears in the passive (fue decomisado) or followed by por + agent to name who seized the goods.