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
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
Following his conviction, ICE's predecessor, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, placed a detainer on Khathavong at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in Philadelphia, and later classified him as an aggravated felon under the Immigration and Nationality Act, per the release.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials separately filed an immigration detainer Wednesday.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2025
The court ordered that Roberts be detained and was advised that an immigration detainer has been lodged, according to the docket.
—Alexander Mallin, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detainer
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Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Following his conviction, ICE's predecessor, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, placed a detainer on Khathavong at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in Philadelphia, and later classified him as an aggravated felon under the Immigration and Nationality Act, per the release.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials separately filed an immigration detainer Wednesday.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2025
The court ordered that Roberts be detained and was advised that an immigration detainer has been lodged, according to the docket.
—Alexander Mallin, ABC News, 2 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 10 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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