detachment

noun

de·​tach·​ment di-ˈtach-mənt 

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

Synonyms

• disinterest
• disinterestedness
• equity
• evenhandedness
• fair-mindedness
• fairness
• impartiality
• justice
• neutralism
• neutrality
• nonpartisanship
• objectiveness
• objectivity

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

But an air of bemused detachment works beautifully for the Beecher trial. —Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2024

However, these specks in the field of vision, which may appear as cobwebs, spots, squiggly lines, or threads, can sometimes be caused by other severe eye conditions, such as retinal detachment, uveitis, or vitreous detachment. —Cassie Shortsleeve, Health, 30 Mar. 2024

This leads to feelings of detachment, which intensify with more layers of hierarchy. —Andrew Sever, Forbes, 15 Feb. 2024

But Gagne said her emotional detachment can complicate family life. —Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024

An underlying detachment and cynicism now tempered their desire for change. —Christina Knight, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2024

Since then, rotating detachments of Filipino marines have been living on board, hunkering down through tropical heat, typhoons and long spells away from home in a bid to assert territorial rights and prevent any Chinese development there. —Rebecca Wright, CNN, 6 Mar. 2024

Counterintuitively, the size of the operation does not seem to matter—small detachments of peacekeepers can be more successful in protecting civilians than large ones. —Stian Kjeksrud, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024

But Abdalla and Sherry do strike a winning chemistry, and the actress offers some subtle indicators that Brooke’s ironic detachment masks a more private sadness. —J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 16 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1669, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing detachment

• retinal detachment

Kids Definition

detachment

noun

de·​tach·​ment di-ˈtach-mənt 

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