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
Many of the other detainees were allegedly arrested after leaving their houses for work.
—
Laura Rodríguez Presa, Chicago Tribune, 14 July 2025
Mixed among the detainees accused and convicted of crimes are more than 250 people who are listed as having only immigration violations but no criminal convictions or pending charges in the United States.
—Ana Ceballos, Sun Sentinel, 13 July 2025
Individuals sent to the makeshift detention center do not show up in an online government database that allows the public to search for immigrant detainees’ whereabouts.
—Ana Ceballos, Miami Herald, 13 July 2025
One call posted online by a detainee's girlfriend showed he and others claiming limited access to water and inadequate food.
—July 12, CBS News, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for detainee
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Laura Rodríguez Presa, Chicago Tribune, 14 July 2025
Mixed among the detainees accused and convicted of crimes are more than 250 people who are listed as having only immigration violations but no criminal convictions or pending charges in the United States.
—Ana Ceballos, Sun Sentinel, 13 July 2025
Individuals sent to the makeshift detention center do not show up in an online government database that allows the public to search for immigrant detainees’ whereabouts.
—Ana Ceballos, Miami Herald, 13 July 2025
One call posted online by a detainee's girlfriend showed he and others claiming limited access to water and inadequate food.
—July 12, CBS News, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for detainee
Cite this Entry
“Detainee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detainee. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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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