the act of forcibly dispossessing an owner of property
"The government ordered the immediate seizure of the factory to seize control from the corrupt owners."
the taking possession of something by legal process
"The court ordered a seizure of the company's assets to ensure payment of the outstanding debts."
The act of taking possession, as by force or right of law.
"The police executed a seizure of the counterfeit currency after discovering it in the warehouse."
In plain English: A seizure is when your brain suddenly has an electrical problem that makes you shake, lose control of your muscles, or pass out for a short time.
"The sudden seizure caused her car to stop working instantly on the highway."
Usage: In legal contexts, this term refers to the government's forced acquisition of property without prior compensation, distinct from voluntary transfers. Avoid confusing it with a medical episode involving loss of consciousness or convulsions, which is also called "seizure" but carries an entirely different meaning.
The word seizure comes from the verb seize with the suffix -ure, which was added to form a noun indicating an action or result. It entered English through Old French and originally described the act of grasping something firmly, a meaning that remains central today.