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
In Georgia, the protests come just days after ICE officers were deployed at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and cities like Oakwood and Social Circle clash with the federal government over ICE detention facilities being built in their districts.
—
Irene Wright, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2026
The ruling also made the ongoing lawsuit against the DeSantis administration’s pop-up immigration detention facility a class action.
—Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
The murder suspect turned himself in at the Texas border in 2023, where he was held in detention before being released.
—Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2026
It's based on habeas corpus, which is a Latin legal term referring to the constitutional right for people to legally challenge their detention by the government.
—Audrey McAvoy The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detention
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Irene Wright, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2026
The ruling also made the ongoing lawsuit against the DeSantis administration’s pop-up immigration detention facility a class action.
—Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
The murder suspect turned himself in at the Texas border in 2023, where he was held in detention before being released.
—Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2026
It's based on habeas corpus, which is a Latin legal term referring to the constitutional right for people to legally challenge their detention by the government.
—Audrey McAvoy The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 27 Mar. 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 31 Mar. 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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