detainer

noun

de·​tain·​er di-ˈtā-nər 

1

: the act of keeping something in one's possession

specifically : the withholding from the rightful owner of something that has lawfully come into the possession of the holder

2

: detention in custody

3

: a writ authorizing the keeper of a prison to continue to hold a person in custody

Synonyms

• detainment
• detention
• hold
• immurement
• imprisonment
• incarceration

Examples of detainer in a Sentence

keep him in detainer for at least 72 hours

she filed an action for unlawful detainer of land after nonpayment of rent

Recent Examples on the Web

The plaintiffs were held longer than they normally would have been jailed because Immigration and Customs Enforcement had lodged detainer requests. —Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 8 Feb. 2025

The ordinance has similar elements to the Welcoming City Act and prohibits the use of county resources for complying with a detainer request by ICE. —Ray Lewis, Baltimore Sun, 7 Feb. 2025

Cook County won’t fulfill ICE detainer requests In a vote of 10-5, the Cook County Board passes an ordinance to free immigrants suspected of living in the U.S. illegally who are jailed in both felony and misdemeanor cases despite federal immigration authorities’ requests to detain them. —Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2025

These detainers allow law enforcement to hold an offender beyond 48 hours, giving federal officials time to take them into custody. —Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 4 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Anglo-French detenour, alteration of detenir

First Known Use

1619, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Legal Definition

detainer

noun

de·​tain·​er di-ˈtā-nər 

1

: the act of keeping something in one's possession

specifically : unlawful detainer

2

: detention in custody

3

: a notification sent by a prosecutor, judge, or other official advising a prison official that a prisoner is wanted to answer criminal charges and requesting continued detention of the prisoner or notification of the prisoner's impending release compare extradition

Etymology

Anglo-French detenoure, from detenir to restrain, detain, from Old French, from Latin detinere