French Conversation · Level 57
74 words
French word
enfermement
Pronunciation
IPA/ɑ̃fɛʁməmɑ̃/
Meaning
- masculine nounconfinement
Example
L'enfermement me pèse.
The confinement is weighing on me.
More examples
Son enfermement en prison a duré trois ans.
His confinement in prison lasted three years.
Core concept
A closed space or barrier leaves someone or something cut off, whether physically or figuratively.
Common phrases
mesures d'enfermement
confinement measures
peur de l'enfermement
fear of confinement
Similar words
confinement: A state of being confined to a building or area, with movement and activity limited.
isolement: A state of being apart from other people or a group.
Definition in French
Action ou effet de rendre quelqu'un ou quelque chose fermé, confiné ou isolé.
Word origin
The noun comes from enfermer plus -ment, a suffix that forms nouns denoting an action or resulting state; enfermer is built with en- and fermer.
Usage tips
- Enfermement can describe a mental or social condition as well as physical confinement, so mental and social uses are not limited to literal rooms.
Other meanings
- isolationnoun
- imprisonmentnoun
Opposites
- libérationreleasenoun
Related words
- enfermerconfineverb
- enferméconfinedadjective