detention
noun
de·ten·tion
di-ˈten-chən 
1
: the act or fact of detaining or holding back
especially
: a holding in custody
the detention of suspects
2
: the state of being detained
Some protesters were held in detention.
especially
: a period of temporary custody prior to disposition by a court
3
: a punishment in which a student is required to stay at school for a period of time beyond normal class hours
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
The driver, 21-year-old Joel Gandarilla, was hospitalized and faces a charge of evading detention with a vehicle, according to the Police Department’s online arrest records.
—
Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Mar. 2026
The Washington Examiner learned that while ICE has publicly disclosed plans to buy roughly 10 warehouses and convert them into immigrant holding sites, another component of that plan focuses on gaining control of the land and buildings where existing detention sites are located.
—Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 15 Mar. 2026
Twenty-three immigrants have already died in custody in the current fiscal year, putting it on pace to surpass the previous one, which had the highest number of deaths in immigration detention in decades.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2026
Connecticut’s Judicial Branch has canceled plans to open a 20-bed juvenile detention facility on Merrow Road in Tolland, a plan that had sparked fierce opposition from local officials.
—Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detention
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Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Mar. 2026
The Washington Examiner learned that while ICE has publicly disclosed plans to buy roughly 10 warehouses and convert them into immigrant holding sites, another component of that plan focuses on gaining control of the land and buildings where existing detention sites are located.
—Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 15 Mar. 2026
Twenty-three immigrants have already died in custody in the current fiscal year, putting it on pace to surpass the previous one, which had the highest number of deaths in immigration detention in decades.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2026
Connecticut’s Judicial Branch has canceled plans to open a 20-bed juvenile detention facility on Merrow Road in Tolland, a plan that had sparked fierce opposition from local officials.
—Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detention
Cite this Entry
“Detention.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detention. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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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