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
One day after he was taken into custody, ICE filed a detainer and placed an immigration hold on him.
—
Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
On July 30, 2022, ERO Boston lodged a detainer with the Lynn District Court for Moran, but the court failed to honor the detainer and released him without notification to ERO, according to ICE.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Records show the Department of Justice in Puerto Rico issued a detainer for him that was canceled in November.
—Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 10 Mar. 2025
While police in Boston may not respond to a civil detainer filed by federal agencies, the Boston Police Department does not ever, the mayor said, ignore a criminal warrant due to suspect’s immigration status.
—Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detainer
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Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
On July 30, 2022, ERO Boston lodged a detainer with the Lynn District Court for Moran, but the court failed to honor the detainer and released him without notification to ERO, according to ICE.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Records show the Department of Justice in Puerto Rico issued a detainer for him that was canceled in November.
—Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 10 Mar. 2025
While police in Boston may not respond to a civil detainer filed by federal agencies, the Boston Police Department does not ever, the mayor said, ignore a criminal warrant due to suspect’s immigration status.
—Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald, 10 Mar. 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 Jun. 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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