detainer
noun
de·tain·er
di-ˈtā-nər 
1
: the act of keeping something in one's possession
specifically
: the withholding from the rightful owner of something that has lawfully come into the possession of the holder
2
: detention in custody
3
: a writ authorizing the keeper of a prison to continue to hold a person in custody
Examples of detainer in a Sentence
keep him in detainer for at least 72 hours
she filed an action for unlawful detainer of land after nonpayment of rent
Recent Examples on the Web
After he was ordered released from the jail, ICE picked up Bakhtishodov on a detainer, a request from the agency that a jail hold a person until immigration officials can process them.
—
David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 11 Nov. 2025
The documents say that as of filing, the county had received 13 detainers and at least nine people had been transferred into ICE custody.
—Laura Schulte, jsonline.com, 7 Nov. 2025
Joseph boned up on the decision during the lunch break and learned that ICE agents with a detainer against a defendant were only to take custody of the defendant in the lock-up area of the court.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 6 Nov. 2025
The former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) lodged an immigration detainer against Khathavong at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in Philadelphia a month after his conviction.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detainer
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David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 11 Nov. 2025
The documents say that as of filing, the county had received 13 detainers and at least nine people had been transferred into ICE custody.
—Laura Schulte, jsonline.com, 7 Nov. 2025
Joseph boned up on the decision during the lunch break and learned that ICE agents with a detainer against a defendant were only to take custody of the defendant in the lock-up area of the court.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 6 Nov. 2025
The former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) lodged an immigration detainer against Khathavong at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in Philadelphia a month after his conviction.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detainer
Cite this Entry
“Detainer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detainer. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
detainer
noun
de·tain·er
di-ˈtā-nər
1
: the act of keeping something in one's possession
specifically
: unlawful detainer
2
: detention in custody
3
: a notification sent by a prosecutor, judge, or other official advising a prison official that a prisoner is wanted to answer criminal charges and requesting continued detention of the prisoner or notification of the prisoner's impending release compare extradition
Etymology
Anglo-French detenoure, from detenir to restrain, detain, from Old French, from Latin detinere
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