house arrest
B2Formal, Legal, Journalistic, General.
Definition
Meaning
A legal punishment or restriction where a person is confined to their own residence instead of a prison, often with electronic monitoring and strict conditions.
The phrase is also used metaphorically to describe a situation of severe confinement or restriction of movement, not imposed by law, e.g., due to illness, bad weather, or parental rules.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Always a noun phrase, typically used with verbs like 'be under', 'be placed under', 'serve', 'violate'. It implies state-imposed restriction, not self-imposed confinement. It is a specific type of 'detention'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in legal meaning. In metaphorical use, UK English might slightly prefer 'grounded' for children, while US English might use 'confined to quarters' more broadly.
Connotations
Strong connotations of legal penalty, surveillance, and loss of liberty, albeit in a domestic setting.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both varieties, commonly appearing in news reports about political dissidents, white-collar criminals, or during public health crises.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Person/Subject] + be/be placed/be sentenced + under/to + house arrest[Authority] + place/sentence + [Person] + under/to + house arrestVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Under virtual house arrest (metaphorical intensifier)”
- “A prisoner in one's own home”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in reports of executives sentenced for financial crimes.
Academic
Used in legal, criminology, and political science texts discussing penalties and human rights.
Everyday
Used in news consumption and metaphorical descriptions of being stuck at home.
Technical
A precise legal term with defined conditions (curfews, monitoring, approved absences).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The activist was **house-arrested** for three years (rare, journalistic).
American English
- The judge can **house-arrest** non-violent offenders (rare, legal).
adjective
British English
- He is subject to **house-arrest** conditions (noun phrase used attributively).
American English
- She wore an ankle monitor as part of her **house arrest** order (noun phrase used attributively).
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The famous writer is under house arrest in her country.
- The court sentenced him to six months of house arrest with an electronic tag.
- After violating the terms of his house arrest by leaving the city, he was sent to prison.
- The dissident's indefinite house arrest, while ostensibly more humane than imprisonment, was designed to isolate him from his supporters.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: ARRESTed but allowed to stay in your HOUSE.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE HOME IS A PRISON (when imposed); CONFINEMENT IS CAPTIVITY.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not 'домашний арест' (direct calque) is correct, but ensure the concept of legal compulsion is understood, not just staying home. Do not confuse with 'комендантский час' (curfew).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'home arrest' (incorrect).
- Using it for self-imposed isolation (e.g., 'I put myself under house arrest to study').
- Confusing with 'curfew', which is a time-based restriction.
Practice
Quiz
Which scenario best describes being under house arrest?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a type of custodial sentence or penalty, but it is served at a private residence rather than a correctional facility. It is often used as an alternative to imprisonment.
Sometimes. The specific terms set by the court may permit travel to and from a workplace at scheduled times. This is not automatic and must be explicitly authorised.
Bail is a pre-trial release condition, often involving a financial guarantee, to ensure the accused returns to court. House arrest is a post-conviction punishment or a strict pre-trial condition involving confinement to a specific location.
In many jurisdictions, especially in the US, 'home confinement' is the official legal term, while 'house arrest' is the common colloquial term. They are functionally synonymous.