detainee
noun
de·tain·ee
di-ˌtā-ˈnē 
ˌdē-
: a person held in custody especially for political reasons
Examples of detainee in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Thousands of immigrants are currently being detained in large detention centers where detainees, lawyers and activists have alleged abuse and poor conditions.
—
Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 16 Feb. 2026
Those facilities would hold between 1,000 and 1,500 detainees for up to a week.
—Brian Niemietz, Mercury News, 16 Feb. 2026
Iraq has repatriated most of its citizens, who accounted for the largest number of detainees, after Syrians.
—ABC News, 16 Feb. 2026
Authorities are increasingly denying detainees access to legal counsel and often holding them for days or weeks before allowing any phone calls to family.
—CBS News, 14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detainee
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Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 16 Feb. 2026
Those facilities would hold between 1,000 and 1,500 detainees for up to a week.
—Brian Niemietz, Mercury News, 16 Feb. 2026
Iraq has repatriated most of its citizens, who accounted for the largest number of detainees, after Syrians.
—ABC News, 16 Feb. 2026
Authorities are increasingly denying detainees access to legal counsel and often holding them for days or weeks before allowing any phone calls to family.
—CBS News, 14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detainee
Cite this Entry
“Detainee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detainee. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
detainee
noun
de·tain·ee
di-ˌtā-ˈnē
: a person who is detained
especially
: a person held in custody prior to trial or hearing
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