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
Dozens of immigrant families protested Saturday behind the fences of a Texas detention facility where a 5-year-old Ecuadorian boy and his father were sent this week after being detained in Minnesota.
—
Valerie Gonzalez, Twin Cities, 25 Jan. 2026
The bill also would impose new restrictions on DHS, including requiring more de-escalation training for ICE and CBP agents, implementing more oversight of detention facilities and restricting how the agency can spend money.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 24 Jan. 2026
But Border Patrol Commander-at-Large Gregory Bovino doubled down on the unrelenting detention effort, which has at times swept up legal residents, US citizens and even a preschooler.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 24 Jan. 2026
That said, the possibility of the federal government’s involvement raises questions about the city’s ability to block an ICE detention site, experts told The Star.
—Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detention
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Valerie Gonzalez, Twin Cities, 25 Jan. 2026
The bill also would impose new restrictions on DHS, including requiring more de-escalation training for ICE and CBP agents, implementing more oversight of detention facilities and restricting how the agency can spend money.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 24 Jan. 2026
But Border Patrol Commander-at-Large Gregory Bovino doubled down on the unrelenting detention effort, which has at times swept up legal residents, US citizens and even a preschooler.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 24 Jan. 2026
That said, the possibility of the federal government’s involvement raises questions about the city’s ability to block an ICE detention site, experts told The Star.
—Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 24 Jan. 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 28 Jan. 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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