noun
entrapment
ihn-TRAP-muhnt
Entrapment (noun) means the act of luring someone, especially by police, into committing a crime so they can be arrested for it. Example: “The defense argued that the sting operation amounted to entrapment.”
noun
1
The act of luring someone, especially by police, into committing a crime so they can be arrested for it.
"The defense argued that the sting operation amounted to entrapment."
2
The state of being trapped.
"Entrapments in lifts were also on the increase, with an 18% increase across the most recent reporting period (2024-2025)."
— , Network News: Satisfaction levels with assisted travel unchanged... but lift failures increase (2025)
"Bowen talked of the entrapment of parenting, the anxiety that makes some women feel they are never free again: "We're forever waiting for the other shoe to drop, all the while trying to have a life.""
— Louise Rice, Confronting The Mythology Of Motherhood (1988)
"She described a feeling of entrapment in her unhappy marriage."
"The entrapment of the victims in the wreckage made rescue difficult."
How to use entrapment
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUsually a legal term for police tricking someone into breaking the law; also used more generally for a feeling of being trapped.
Common pairings
a defense of entrapment
claim entrapment
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Word forms
- Plural
- entrapments
Fill the gap
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The defense argued that the sting operation amounted to _____.
Etymology
From "entrap" plus the suffix "-ment," forming a noun describing the act or result.
Frequently asked questions
What does “entrapment” mean?
The word “entrapment” means the act of luring someone, especially by police, into committing a crime so they can be arrested for it. In plain terms, usually a legal term for police tricking someone into breaking the law; also used more generally for a feeling of being trapped.
How do you pronounce “entrapment”?
“Entrapment” is pronounced ihn-TRAP-muhnt (/ɪnˈtɹæpmənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “entrapment” in a sentence?
Here is “entrapment” used in a sentence: “The defense argued that the sting operation amounted to entrapment.”
What part of speech is “entrapment”?
“Entrapment” is a noun.
How many meanings does “entrapment” have?
“Entrapment” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the act of luring someone, especially by police, into committing a crime so they can be arrested for it.
