detachment

[ dih-tach-muhnt ]

noun

1. the act of detaching.
2. the condition of being detached. detached.
3. aloofness, as from worldly affairs or from the concerns of others.

   Synonyms: coolness, unconcern, indifference

4. freedom from prejudice or partiality.
5. the act of sending out a detached detached force of troops or naval ships.
6. the body of troops or ships so detached. detached.

detachment

/ dɪˈtætʃmənt /

noun

1. indifference to other people or to one's surroundings; aloofness
2. freedom from self-interest or bias; disinterest
3. the act of disengaging or separating something
4. the condition of being disengaged or separated; disconnection
5. military
   1. the separation of a small unit from its main body, esp of ships or troops
   2. the unit so detached
6. a branch office of a police force
7. logic the rule whereby the consequent of a true conditional statement, given the truth of its antecedent, may be asserted on its own See also modus ponens

Other Words From

• nonde·tachment noun
• prede·tachment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of detachment¹

From the French word détachement, dating back to 1660–70. See detach, -ment

Example Sentences

But in some quarters, a certain sense of detachment pervaded over this faraway political earthquake.

From Los Angeles Times

A senior Ukrainian official told the New York Times that around 5,000 elite North Korean troops were set to have joined the Russian detachment in the border region by Monday.

From BBC

The US also kept a small detachment of special forces in the country, but Déby asked for their departure in the run-up to May’s election.

From BBC

"From my perspective, you want to make sure every single person having a placental detachment at 18 weeks gets an abortion so they don't die," Greene said.

From Salon

But this is the lesson of Libra love — that beauty is best served with compassionate detachment.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• indifference
• neutrality
• objectivity
• remoteness