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
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
McFadden has said his office is complying with ICE’s detainer requests, but that ICE hasn’t been communicating with his deputies and failed to take custody of a Honduran national in January within the 48-hour window prescribed by state law.
—
Avi Bajpai, Charlotte Observer, 5 Mar. 2025
Mejia joined in on the City Council vote last December to reaffirm the Boston Trust Act, a 2014 local law that prohibits city police and other departments from cooperating with federal authorities on civil immigration detainers.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 23 Feb. 2025
The next day, immigration officials filed a detainer against White while he was being held at the New Haven Correctional Center.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 20 Feb. 2025
Another detainer followed on January 14, 2014, and he was deported two days later.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detainer
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Avi Bajpai, Charlotte Observer, 5 Mar. 2025
Mejia joined in on the City Council vote last December to reaffirm the Boston Trust Act, a 2014 local law that prohibits city police and other departments from cooperating with federal authorities on civil immigration detainers.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 23 Feb. 2025
The next day, immigration officials filed a detainer against White while he was being held at the New Haven Correctional Center.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 20 Feb. 2025
Another detainer followed on January 14, 2014, and he was deported two days later.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detainer
Cite this Entry
“Detainer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detainer. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal 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
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