detainee

American  

[dih-tey-nee, dee-tey-nee] / dɪˈteɪ ni, ˌdi teɪˈni /

noun

1. a person held in custody, especially for a political offense or for questioning.

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Etymology

Origin of detainee

First recorded in 1925–30; detain + -ee

Explanation

A prisoner is sometimes called a detainee, especially if they're being held by a government or its military forces. Political prisoners are often referred to as detainees, as are people captured by armed forces. Legally, anyone who is being temporarily held or detained until they can be tried in a court is also called a detainee. An inmate or prisoner, on the other hand, has been convicted and imprisoned as part of a legal sentence. Detainee and detain come from the Latin root detinere, "to hold off or hold back."

Example Sentences

"We have written in the letter that we released your detainee here, so you should release our detainee there as well," his son said.

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

Draconian policies and skyrocketing detainee populations coupled with lack of oversight and worsening conditions in the detention facilities are driving this surge, which seems set to continue.

From Slate • Mar. 19, 2026

Last year, 33 people died while in the custody of ICE, according to detainee death reports published by the Department of Homeland Security.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2026

Despite growing resistance from some state and local leaders, the administration seeks to open additional ICE facilities in warehouses across Texas and the country to handle an exploding detainee population.

From Salon • Feb. 20, 2026

The detainee who is wise enough to realize this will never find any cause for complaint, but only all conceivable help, to erase the memory of what he had been accused of.

From My Life and My Efforts by Olesch, Gunther

Related Words

• hostage
• prisoner
• prisoner of war
• slave