clampdown: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, journalistic, political, administrative.
Quick answer
What does “clampdown” mean?
A sudden, strict, and official action to stop or limit a particular activity.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A sudden, strict, and official action to stop or limit a particular activity.
A severe, often punitive, imposition of rules, restrictions, or enforcement measures by an authority to suppress or control something deemed undesirable.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The word is used in both varieties with equal frequency and the same connotations.
Connotations
Equally negative/authoritative in both varieties.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in news and political discourse in both the UK and US.
Grammar
How to Use “clampdown” in a Sentence
clampdown on [activity/group]clampdown by [authority]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “clampdown” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The council plans to clamp down on unlicensed street traders.
- Authorities are clamping down heavily on benefit fraud.
American English
- The university is clamping down on plagiarism with new software.
- The FDA is clamping down on misleading supplement labels.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The regulatory clampdown on insider trading has made compliance departments more vigilant.
Academic
The study examines the social consequences of the government's clampdown on civil liberties.
Everyday
There's been a real clampdown on parking in our neighbourhood, with fines being issued constantly.
Technical
The central bank's monetary clampdown was designed to curb inflationary pressures.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “clampdown”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “clampdown”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “clampdown”
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'They will clampdown on protests'). Correct: 'They will clamp down on protests' (verb) or 'They will impose a clampdown on protests' (noun).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
As a noun, it is one word: 'clampdown'. As a verb, it is a phrasal verb: 'to clamp down on something'.
They are very close synonyms and often interchangeable. 'Crackdown' might imply slightly more aggressive or punitive action, while 'clampdown' can emphasise the restrictive, controlling aspect. In practice, the choice is often stylistic.
Rarely. It is almost always used by those criticising the action or reporting it neutrally. An authority might frame its own action as 'tougher enforcement' or 'necessary measures' rather than a 'clampdown', which has a negative spin.
The primary preposition is 'on' (a clampdown ON fraud). You can also use 'by' to indicate the actor (a clampdown BY the government).
A sudden, strict, and official action to stop or limit a particular activity.
Clampdown is usually formal, journalistic, political, administrative. in register.
Clampdown: in British English it is pronounced /ˈklæmpdaʊn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈklæmpˌdaʊn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[to] come down hard (on)”
- “[to] crack the whip”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a large metal CLAMP being forced DOWN onto something to hold it tightly in place and stop it moving. A clampdown stops activity.
Conceptual Metaphor
AUTHORITY IS PHYSICAL PRESSURE / CONTROL IS HOLDING DOWN.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes a 'clampdown'?