[+ object]

: to take something away from someone especially as punishment or to enforce the law or rules

• Guards confiscated knives and other weapons from the prisoners.
• The police have the authority to confiscate the drug dealer’s property.
• The teacher confiscated all cell phones for the duration of the field trip.

confiscation /ˌkɑnfəˈskeɪʃən/ noun [noncount]

• the confiscation of terrorists’ assets