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
They were being held in the Grand Prairie Jail with immigration detainers.
—
Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Nov. 2025
McFadden also declined to honor ICE detainers – requests for local law enforcement to hold people in their custody beyond their ordinary release time, allowing federal agents to pick them up.
—Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 22 Nov. 2025
The first year-and-a-half, Stanley said, was about educating the courts on what was in the statutes, like the difference between rent and possession and an unlawful detainer, or case procedure.
—Kansas City Star, 21 Nov. 2025
The agency also said nearly 1,400 detainers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement have not been honored by local authorities.
—Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 18 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detainer
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Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Nov. 2025
McFadden also declined to honor ICE detainers – requests for local law enforcement to hold people in their custody beyond their ordinary release time, allowing federal agents to pick them up.
—Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 22 Nov. 2025
The first year-and-a-half, Stanley said, was about educating the courts on what was in the statutes, like the difference between rent and possession and an unlawful detainer, or case procedure.
—Kansas City Star, 21 Nov. 2025
The agency also said nearly 1,400 detainers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement have not been honored by local authorities.
—Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 18 Nov. 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 30 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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