detention center
noun
1
: a place where people who have entered a country illegally are kept for a period of time
2
: a place where people who have committed crimes are kept as punishment
She spent several months in a detention center for women.
a juvenile detention center
Examples of detention center in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Antonio was waiting there with De La Cruz and her team, who had lobbied for the family’s release and picked him up from the detention center.
—
Jesús Rodríguez, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026
One German tourist crossing overland from Mexico into California last year was held in a detention center for six weeks, including a spell in solitary confinement.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2026
As highlighted in the El Paso detention center, the measles outbreak has shined a light on the health disparities suffered by the most vulnerable.
—Professor David R. Hill, Hartford Courant, 17 Apr. 2026
Habiba Soliman said a brother, who is 16, had appendicitis in the detention center.
—Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detention center
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Jesús Rodríguez, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026
One German tourist crossing overland from Mexico into California last year was held in a detention center for six weeks, including a spell in solitary confinement.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2026
As highlighted in the El Paso detention center, the measles outbreak has shined a light on the health disparities suffered by the most vulnerable.
—Professor David R. Hill, Hartford Courant, 17 Apr. 2026
Habiba Soliman said a brother, who is 16, had appendicitis in the detention center.
—Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detention center
Cite this Entry
“Detention center.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detention%20center. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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