detachment

noun

de·​tach·​ment di-ˈtach-mənt How to pronounce detachment (audio)
dē-
1
: the action or process of detaching : separation
2
a
: the dispatch of a body of troops or part of a fleet from the main body for a special mission or service
b
: the part so dispatched
c
: a permanently organized separate unit usually smaller than a platoon and of special composition
3
a
: indifference to worldly concerns : aloofness
b
: freedom from bias or prejudice

Examples of detachment in a Sentence

I wish the article had approached the issue with a bit more detachment. The form is perforated to make detachment of the bottom section easier. A detachment of soldiers was called to assist the police.
Recent Examples on the Web But Abdalla and Sherry do strike a winning chemistry, and the actress offers some subtle indicators that Brooke’s ironic detachment masks a more private sadness. J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 16 Mar. 2024 In Alps, the actors and their patrons treat the macabre service as commonplace and routine, behaving with an emotional detachment that feels incongruous with the strange situation. Allaire Nuss, EW.com, 8 Mar. 2024 Lines start to blur: calmness may edge into detachment; coolheadedness might ice over. Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 25 Jan. 2024 On the other, it is nurtured throughout his life by his mother’s blind praise and his father’s emotional detachment. Margaret Lyons, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024 But fictional Vince, much like his real-life counterpart, seems to view his music career with a pragmatism that borders on detachment. Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 15 Feb. 2024 Besides knowing the terrain, some guides use night-vision goggles and spend time observing Border Guard patrols to learn their habits and vulnerabilities, said Lesia Fedorova, a Border Guard spokeswoman in the detachment near the Romanian border. Serhii Korolchuk, Washington Post, 8 Dec. 2023 The disruptions to schooling and learning, for many kids, fueled a detachment from education. USA TODAY, 4 Jan. 2024 Voters in each district approved the detachment measure by about 95 percent. Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'detachment.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1669, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of detachment was in 1669

Dictionary Entries Near detachment

Cite this Entry

“Detachment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detachment. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

detachment

noun
de·​tach·​ment di-ˈtach-mənt How to pronounce detachment (audio)
1
: the action or process of detaching : separation
2
a
: the sending out of a body of troops or part of a fleet from the main body
b
: a small military unit with a special task or function
3
a
: a lack of interest in worldly concerns
b
: freedom from the influence of emotions : impartiality

More from Merriam-Webster on detachment

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