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Showing results for detention. Search instead for detentions.
Synonyms

detention

American  
[dih-ten-shuhn] / dɪˈtɛn ʃən /

noun

  1. the act of detaining.

  2. the state of being detained.

  3. maintenance of a person in custody or confinement, especially while awaiting a court decision.

  4. the withholding of what belongs to or is claimed by another.

adjective

  1. of or relating to detention or used to detain.

    the detention room of a police station.
detention British  
/ dɪˈtɛnʃən /

noun

  1. the act of detaining or state of being detained

    1. custody or confinement, esp of a suspect awaiting trial

    2. ( as modifier )

      a detention order

  3. a form of punishment in which a pupil is detained after school

  4. the withholding of something belonging to or claimed by another

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • nondetention noun
  • predetention noun

Etymology

Origin of detention

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin dētentiōn- (stem of dētentiō ), equivalent to dētent ( us ) detained (past participle of dētinēre; detain ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Nearly 7 in 10 respondents said they want state and local authorities to intervene when they witness unlawful detentions or excessive use of force by federal immigration agents.

From Los Angeles Times

Immigrations and Customs Enforcement announced its “ICE Detention Reengineering Initiative” in February, which calls for “eight large-scale detention centers and 16 processing sites, as well as the acquisition of 10 existing ‘turnkey’ facilities.”

From Salon

When it was announced in 2023, the previous Conservative government said the £476m package would fund a new detention centre in France and hundreds of extra law enforcement officers on France's northern shores.

From BBC

ICE maintains that Ramos-Solano received consistent medical care during his detention, noting he had been diagnosed with diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension upon intake in February and was treated daily for those conditions.

From Los Angeles Times

People being held in detention aren't necessarily being prosecuted, but also may not be released, she explained.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.