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 plot centered on a teenage girl (Rudolph) who had been sent to a detention camp, where she and others were forced to dig holes for unknown reasons by a cruel warden (Kinnear).
—
Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Dec. 2025
But this view is increasingly at odds with the shocking headlines and viral videos of detentions many Americans see as unjust or overly violent.
—Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 13 Dec. 2025
He is expected in court on Saturday for a detention hearing.
—Elyssa Kaufman, CBS News, 13 Dec. 2025
Abrego Garcia was released from immigration detention Thursday after Judge Xinis ordered his release on the grounds that the government could not hold him in immigration detention because he was never issued a removal order.
—Laura Romero, ABC News, 12 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detention
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Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Dec. 2025
But this view is increasingly at odds with the shocking headlines and viral videos of detentions many Americans see as unjust or overly violent.
—Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 13 Dec. 2025
He is expected in court on Saturday for a detention hearing.
—Elyssa Kaufman, CBS News, 13 Dec. 2025
Abrego Garcia was released from immigration detention Thursday after Judge Xinis ordered his release on the grounds that the government could not hold him in immigration detention because he was never issued a removal order.
—Laura Romero, ABC News, 12 Dec. 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 19 Dec. 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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