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View synonyms for

detention

[ dih-ten-shuhn ]

noun

  1. the act of detaining.
  2. the state of being detained.
  3. maintenance of a person in custody or confinement, especially while awaiting a court decision.
  4. the withholding of what belongs to or is claimed by another.


adjective

  1. of or relating to detention or used to detain:

    the detention room of a police station.

detention

/ ɪˈɛʃə /

noun

  1. the act of detaining or state of being detained
    1. custody or confinement, esp of a suspect awaiting trial
    2. ( as modifier )

      a detention order

  2. a form of punishment in which a pupil is detained after school
  3. the withholding of something belonging to or claimed by another
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • ԴDzd·ٱtDz noun
  • d·ٱtDz noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of detention1

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin ŧٱԳپō- (stem of ŧٱԳپō ), equivalent to ŧٱԳ ( us ) detained (past participle of ŧپŧ; detain ) + -ō- -ion
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Word History and Origins

Origin of detention1

C16: from Latin ŧٱԳپō a keeping back; see detain
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Advocates fear that immigration detention is harming children’s mental health.

From

His party has been disqualified from the elections and he has been in detention for the past two weeks.

From

He pointed to three recently detained university students who have been taken to a remote detention center in Louisiana, where they don’t have easy access to representation.

From

The immigration department said the women were "offered dignified treatment" after being taken to a detention centre where their biometric data and fingerprints were recorded.

From

This Court should not be fooled by the good deeds defendant promises to accomplish if only he could close the detention doors behind him.”

From

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éٱԳٱdetention camp