detachment

noun

de·​tach·​ment di-ˈtach-mənt How to pronounce detachment (audio)
dē-
1
: the action or process of detaching : separation
2
a
: the dispatch of a body of troops or part of a fleet from the main body for a special mission or service
b
: the part so dispatched
c
: a permanently organized separate unit usually smaller than a platoon and of special composition
3
a
: indifference to worldly concerns : aloofness
b
: freedom from bias or prejudice

Examples of detachment in a Sentence

I wish the article had approached the issue with a bit more detachment. The form is perforated to make detachment of the bottom section easier. A detachment of soldiers was called to assist the police.
Recent Examples on the Web Focus On Goals, Not Headlines Staying informed about world events is important, but the key is to observe these events with detachment. Gianluca Sidoti, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024 This scene stands out for the anguish that Phillips puts into it, and that stands out in another regard, too—its seeming detachment from the action that precedes it and follows it. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2024 In the 1980s, as different factions vied for control of Lebanon and a U.S. Marine detachment was deployed as a would-be peacekeeping force, Aqil was a top figure in Hezbollah's Islamic Jihad Organization. Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 20 Sep. 2024 That suspicion and detachment are what Rutsch, a former computer systems administrator turned empathy educator, aims to dissolve through empathy cafes and other similar events. Elizabeth Svoboda, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for detachment 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'detachment.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1669, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of detachment was in 1669

Dictionary Entries Near detachment

Cite this Entry

“Detachment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detachment. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

detachment

noun
de·​tach·​ment di-ˈtach-mənt How to pronounce detachment (audio)
1
: the action or process of detaching : separation
2
a
: the sending out of a body of troops or part of a fleet from the main body
b
: a small military unit with a special task or function
3
a
: a lack of interest in worldly concerns
b
: freedom from the influence of emotions : impartiality

More from Merriam-Webster on detachment

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