noun
Common
seizure
SEE-zhuh
Seizure (noun) means the act of taking something by force or by legal authority. Example: “The seizure of the vessel and its cargo was upheld by the court.”
noun
1
The act of taking something by force or by legal authority.
"The seizure of the vessel and its cargo was upheld by the court."
"Border officers reported a record seizure of counterfeit goods."
"Customs officers carried out the seizure of the smuggled goods."
"The court ordered the seizure of his assets."
2
A sudden episode of abnormal electrical activity in the brain, often causing convulsions, common in epilepsy.
"She had two seizures in the night and was kept in for observation."
"Not all seizures involve shaking; some look like a few seconds of blankness."
"He had his first seizure at the age of nine."
"The medication is meant to reduce the frequency of seizures."
3
The taking of control of a place, position or power, usually suddenly and by force.
"The seizure of the broadcasting station was the first sign of the coup."
"The rebels announced the seizure of the capital's main airport early in the morning."
"Troops carried out the seizure of the government building within an hour."
How to use seizure
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the forceful taking of property or control, or a sudden brain-related convulsive episode.
Common mistake
In medical contexts, "seizure" and "convulsion" are often used loosely as synonyms, but not every seizure causes visible convulsions.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
epileptic seizure
asset seizure
have a seizure
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like seizure.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- seizures
- Third person singular
- seizures
- Past tense
- seizured
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ of the vessel and its cargo was upheld by the court.
Etymology
From seize plus the noun ending -ure.
Synonyms
View more →
confiscation
capture
appropriation
convulsion
fit
attack
impounding
forfeiture
episode
takeover
occupation
ictus
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for seizure
See all rhymes for seizure →Frequently asked questions
What does “seizure” mean?
The word “seizure” means the act of taking something by force or by legal authority. In plain terms, either the forceful taking of property or control, or a sudden brain-related convulsive episode.
How do you pronounce “seizure”?
“Seizure” is pronounced SEE-zhuh (/ˈsi.ʒɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “seizure” in a sentence?
Here is “seizure” used in a sentence: “Customs officers carried out the seizure of the smuggled goods.”
What part of speech is “seizure”?
“Seizure” is a noun.
Is “seizure” a common word?
“Seizure” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “seizure” have?
“Seizure” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the act of taking something by force or by legal authority.
What is the difference between a seizure and a stroke?
A seizure is a sudden episode of abnormal electrical activity in the brain, often causing convulsions and commonly associated with epilepsy, while a stroke results from interrupted blood flow to the brain. Though both can cause sudden physical symptoms, their underlying causes are different.
What is the difference between "seizure" in a medical sense and a legal sense?
In a medical sense, a seizure is a sudden episode of abnormal brain activity, often causing convulsions, while in a legal sense, a seizure is the act of taking something by force or by legal authority, such as police seizing property. The two meanings are unrelated despite sharing the same word.
