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

Synonyms

• detainer
• detainment
• hold
• immurement
• imprisonment
• incarceration

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 incident prompted the county's Evans to take the unusual step of declaring a health emergency at the county-run detention facility. —Christine MacDonald, Detroit Free Press, 12 July 2024

The North Broward Bureau is a special-needs detention facility. —Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 12 July 2024

Ford, who escaped from a detention facility after his arrest and evaded re-capture for nearly a year, was not directly charged with Fanta’s death. —Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 10 July 2024

Similarly, detention is an even shorter term disciplinary action which usually takes place in school, either before or after school hours. —Lisa Linnell-Olsen, Parents, 10 July 2024

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

Phrases Containing detention

• detention center
• detention home
• in detention

Kids 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

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