detention

noun

de·​ten·​tion di-ˈten-chən How to pronounce detention (audio)
1
: the act or fact of detaining or holding back
especially : a holding in custody
2
: the state of being detained
especially : a period of temporary custody prior to disposition by a court

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 The document estimates that 3,000 other Gazans remain in Israeli detention without access to lawyers. Patrick Kingsley, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2024 The charges were brought by the Trump administration's Justice Department over WikiLeaks' 2010 publication of cables leaked by Manning detailing war crimes committed by the U.S. government in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, detention camp. Landon Mion, Fox News, 3 Mar. 2024 Smith on Wednesday presented legislation in a state Senate committee to establish a work group that would address concerns related to pretrial detention concerns — more of which have surfaced since The Washington Post first reported the unexpected drain on the $5 million pandemic-era program. Katie Mettler, Washington Post, 29 Feb. 2024 Arrested in Miami Rocha, who was cuffed and wearing a khaki detention uniform, is the former U.S. ambassador to Bolivia. Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 29 Feb. 2024 The project includes reconstruction of the road, installation of new sidewalks and shoulders to accommodate bicycles, new storm sewer, a new detention pond, new pavement markings and a new traffic signal at Speedway Drive. Journal Sentinel, 29 Feb. 2024 Russian media said she is expected to be held in pretrial detention through until at least April. Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2024 Both were ordered held in juvenile detention last week. Bill Lukitsch, Kansas City Star, 23 Feb. 2024 With the Red Notice gone, ICE couldn’t legally justify her detention, the ACLU argued in a Sept. 6 court filing. Nicole Acevedo, NBC News, 22 Feb. 2024

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

Word History

Etymology

Middle English detencion, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin detention-, detentio, from detinēre to detain

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of detention was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near detention

Cite this Entry

“Detention.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detention. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

detention

noun
de·​ten·​tion di-ˈten-chən How to pronounce detention (audio)
: 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

Legal Definition

detention

noun
de·​ten·​tion
1
: the act or fact of detaining or holding back
especially : a holding in custody
2
: the state of being detained
especially : a period of temporary custody prior to a trial or hearing see also preventive detention

More from Merriam-Webster on detention

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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