Definition

A state of confinement or restricted movement, typically imposed as a security measure or to control a public health crisis. It literally refers to the act of “closure” or “shutting down.”

Arabicإِغْلَاق
TranslitertionʾIghlāq
Pronunciation

Grammatical Information

  • Part of Speech: Noun (اسم – Ism)
  • Gender: Masculine (مُذَكَّر – Mudhakkar)
  • Number: Singular (مُفْرَد – Mufrad)

Example Sentences

ArabicTransliterationEnglish TranslationPronunciation
فُرِضَ إِغْلَاقٌ تَامٌّ عَلَى الْمَدِينَةِFurīḍa ʾighlāqun tāmmun ʿalā l-madīnatiA complete lockdown was imposed on the city.
خِلَال فَتْرَةِ الْإِغْلَاقِ، الْتَزَمَ النَّاسُ بِالْبُيُوتِKhilāl fatrati al-ʾighlāq, iltazama an-nāsu bil-buyūtiDuring the lockdown period, people stayed at home.
مَتَى سَيَنْتَهِي حَظْرُ التَّجَوُّل؟Matā sayantahī ḥaẓr at-tajawwul?When will the curfew end?
  • Synonym (مُرَادِف):
    • حَظْر التَّجَوُّل (ḥaẓr at-tajawwul): Curfew (literally: “prohibition of wandering”).
    • حَجْر صِحِّي (ḥajr ṣiḥḥī): Quarantine.
    • إِغْلَاق عَام (ʾighlāq ʿām): General/comprehensive lockdown.
    • عَزْل (ʿazl): Isolation.

  • Words from the Same Root:
    • أَغْلَقَ (ʾaghlaqa): To close or shut (Verb).
    • غَلَق (ghalaq): A lock or closure (Noun).
    • مُغْلَق (mughlaq): Closed (Adjective).

Cultural Context

The term إِغْلَاق (ʾighlāq) gained significant prominence across the Arab world during recent global health events. While the concept of a “curfew” (حَظْر التَّجَوُّل) was historically more associated with security contexts in the region, the broader use of “lockdown” as a public health strategy became a new, widely shared reality.