detention
noun
de·ten·tion
di-ˈten-chən 
1
: the act or fact of detaining or holding back
especially
: a holding in custody
2
: the state of being detained
especially
: a period of temporary custody prior to disposition by a court
Examples of detention in a Sentence
the detention of suspected terrorists
The jail is only used for brief detentions.
They both got three detentions this year.
He got detention for being late to class.
Recent Examples on the Web
After 3 months in ICE detention, Kseniia Petrova case heads to court.
—
Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 14 May 2025
Canada officials also have warned citizens to strictly follow the country’s entry rules or risk detention.
—Detroit News, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2025
His arrest and subsequent transfer to a detention facility near Dallas sparked campus protests and drew national attention amid broader crackdowns on student activism over the Israel-Gaza war.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 14 May 2025
The postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University, who is an Indian national, is now free to return to his home in Virginia while the legal challenge to his detention continues in court.
—Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for detention
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Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 14 May 2025
Canada officials also have warned citizens to strictly follow the country’s entry rules or risk detention.
—Detroit News, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2025
His arrest and subsequent transfer to a detention facility near Dallas sparked campus protests and drew national attention amid broader crackdowns on student activism over the Israel-Gaza war.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 14 May 2025
The postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University, who is an Indian national, is now free to return to his home in Virginia while the legal challenge to his detention continues in court.
—Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for detention
Cite this Entry
“Detention.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detention. Accessed 28 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
detention
noun
de·ten·tion
di-ˈten-chən
: the act of detaining : the state of being detained: as
a
: temporary custody before a trial
b
: the punishment of being kept in after school
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