French word

emprisonnement

Pronunciation

IPA/ɑ̃pʁizɔnəmɑ̃/

Meaning

  • masculine nounimprisonment

Example

L'emprisonnement est une peine sévère.

Imprisonment is a severe punishment.

Illustration for emprisonnement (imprisonment)

More examples

Après des années de procès, il a évité l'emprisonnement.

After years of trials, he avoided imprisonment.

Core concept

A prison door closing on a person's freedom, marking either the act of confinement or the resulting state.

Common phrases

  • risquer l'emprisonnement

    risk imprisonment

  • peine d'emprisonnement

    prison sentence

Similar words

prison: A facility where people are held.
incarcération: Being placed in prison as part of a legal process.
détention: The restraint and monitoring of a person's movements.

Definition in French

Action de mettre quelqu'un en prison ou résultat de cette action, c'est-à-dire l'état d'être détenu.

Word origin

Emprisonnement is formed from emprisonner with the suffix -ment, which creates nouns for an action or its result.

Usage tips

  • Emprisonnement is a formal, weighty noun, while everyday speech often uses être en prison for the state of being in prison.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word