Phrase guide

false imprisonment

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The intentional restriction of a person's movement within any area without legal authority, justification, or the restrained person's permission.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: law

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

(law) confinement without legal authority

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: imprisonment, internment

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Cantonese: 非法禁錮 /非法禁锢 (fei1 faat3 gam3 gu3) — intentional restriction of a person's movement within any area without legal authority
  • Chinese Mandarin: 非法拘禁 (fēifǎ jūjìn) — intentional restriction of a person's movement within any area without legal authority
  • Finnish: vapaudenriisto — intentional restriction of a person's movement within any area without legal authority
  • French: séquestration — intentional restriction of a person's movement within any area without legal authority
  • German: Freiheitsberaubung — intentional restriction of a person's movement within any area without legal authority
  • Portuguese: cárcere privado — intentional restriction of a person's movement within any area without legal authority
  • Spanish: encarcelamiento ilegal — intentional restriction of a person's movement within any area without legal authority