detainee

noun

de·​tain·​ee di-ˌtā-ˈnē How to pronounce detainee (audio)
ˌdē-
: a person held in custody especially for political reasons

Examples of detainee in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
President Donald Trump was on his way to South Florida on Tuesday morning to visit a Florida-run immigration detention center deep in the Everglades that is supposed to be ready to house hundreds of detainees. Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 1 July 2025 Remote hearings further complicate the process, with detainees appearing before a judge over a screen and relying on phone or video interpretation. Renata Daou, Hartford Courant, 30 June 2025 But even among those with criminal convictions — about 40% of detainees since Jan. 20 — the majority were not for violent offenses. Julia Ingram, CBS News, 30 June 2025 The site includes soft-sided holding units for hundreds of detainees through a partnership in which the federal government will provide the funding. Julia Manchester, The Hill, 30 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for detainee

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1928, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of detainee was circa 1928

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Cite this Entry

“Detainee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detainee. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.

Legal Definition

detainee

noun
de·​tain·​ee di-ˌtā-ˈnē How to pronounce detainee (audio)
: a person who is detained
especially : a person held in custody prior to trial or hearing

More from Merriam-Webster on detainee

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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