Real Dictionary

confiscate
verb: If you confiscate something from someone, you take it away from them, usually as a punishment.

confiscate in American English
confiscated
to seize (private property) for the public treasury, usually as a penalty
adjective: seized
transitive verb: to seize as forfeited to the public domain; appropriate, by way of penalty, for public use

confiscate in British English
to seize (property), esp for public use and esp by way of a penalty
adjective: seized or confiscated; forfeit