detention

noun

de·​ten·​tion di-ˈten-chən How to pronounce detention (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Whatever the state gathers—whether the innocuous, the personal, or the intensely political—could in turn be used for arrests, detentions, fines, disappearances, and much worse. Justin Sherman, The Atlantic, 11 Oct. 2025 The raid resulted in the detention of more than 300 Korean nationals, who were eventually returned to their native country. David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 11 Oct. 2025 The student was taken to the Wautoma Police Department, then was transferred to a juvenile detention facility with the help of Waushara County Youth Justice, according to the department. Kelli Arseneau, jsonline.com, 10 Oct. 2025 Miranda Monge has since been moved multiple times within the ICE detention system, his wife said. Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for detention

Word History

Etymology

Middle English detencion, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin detention-, detentio, from detinēre to detain

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of detention was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Detention.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detention. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

detention

noun
de·​ten·​tion di-ˈten-chən How to pronounce detention (audio)
: 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

Legal Definition

detention

noun
de·​ten·​tion
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 a trial or hearing see also preventive detention

More from Merriam-Webster on detention

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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