house arrest

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Definitions from WordNet

Noun house arrest has 1 sense

house arrest - confinement to your own home
--₁ is a kind of confinement

Definitions from the Web

House Arrest

Definition

House arrest refers to a legal situation in which an individual is confined to their residence, typically as a punishment for a crime, while still being allowed limited freedom of movement within their home environment.

Senses

Sense 1: Legal Punishment

In this sense, house arrest is a form of punishment where an offender is required to stay within the confines of their own house or a designated location for a specified period of time. It is often an alternative to incarceration, allowing individuals to serve their sentence while still being able to engage in certain activities within their home.

Example sentence: John avoided jail time by being sentenced to six months of house arrest.

Sense 2: Public Safety

House arrest can also be imposed as a precautionary measure when public safety is a concern. In this case, individuals may be placed under house arrest to prevent them from causing harm or engaging in criminal activities outside of their residence.

Example sentence: The dangerous criminal was placed under house arrest to ensure the safety of the community.

Sense 3: Medical Condition

House arrest, in a medical context, may refer to the confinement of a patient for health reasons, typically due to a contagious disease or a weakened immune system. It aims to prevent the spread of the illness to others by limiting the individual's interactions with the outside world.

Example sentence: The patient with a severe flu was put on house arrest to avoid infecting others.

Sense 4: Informal Usage

Informally, house arrest can be used to describe a situation where an individual voluntarily confines themselves to their home, often due to personal reasons or a desire for solitude.

Example sentence: After a long week, she declared a weekend house arrest, disconnecting from the outside world.