detainee

noun

de·​tain·​ee di-ˌtā-ˈnē How to pronounce detainee (audio)
ˌdē-
: a person held in custody especially for political reasons

Examples of detainee in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The first phase of the deal includes Hamas releasing a number of hostages, including women, in addition to older and wounded detainees, as Israel starts to withdraw from Gaza. Naomi Lim, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 15 Jan. 2025 The move panicked detainees, as similar documents were presented to the Uyghurs deported to China in 2015. Dake Kang and Huizhong Wu, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2025 Nationwide protests have led to over 2,000 arrests, with reports of more than 20 fatalities and allegations of torture among detainees. Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025 No other administration has sent detainees to Guantánamo Bay. Carol Rosenberg, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for detainee 

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1928, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of detainee was circa 1928

Dictionary Entries Near detainee

Cite this Entry

“Detainee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detainee. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

Legal Definition

detainee

noun
de·​tain·​ee di-ˌtā-ˈnē How to pronounce detainee (audio)
: a person who is detained
especially : a person held in custody prior to trial or hearing
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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