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
Ramierz appeared at a detention hearing on Saturday.
—
Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 6 Dec. 2025
People who lived under legal status for years can suddenly face job loss, detention, or deportation.
—Patrik S Ward, Oc Register, 6 Dec. 2025
Capital response and detentions Members of the NorCal Resist community advocacy group have been taking calls to its hotline reporting federal immigration agents taking Afghan residents into custody.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 5 Dec. 2025
Some of the parents are leaving the country with their children due to fear of detention.
—Claire Healy, Miami Herald, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detention
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 6 Dec. 2025
People who lived under legal status for years can suddenly face job loss, detention, or deportation.
—Patrik S Ward, Oc Register, 6 Dec. 2025
Capital response and detentions Members of the NorCal Resist community advocacy group have been taking calls to its hotline reporting federal immigration agents taking Afghan residents into custody.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 5 Dec. 2025
Some of the parents are leaving the country with their children due to fear of detention.
—Claire Healy, Miami Herald, 5 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 8 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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