detention
noun
de·ten·tion
di-ˈten-chən 
1
: the act or fact of detaining or holding back
especially
: a holding in custody
2
: the state of being detained
especially
: a period of temporary custody prior to disposition by a court
Synonyms
Examples of detention in a Sentence
the detention of suspected terrorists
The jail is only used for brief detentions.
They both got three detentions this year.
He got detention for being late to class.
Recent Examples on the Web
Instead, waves of migration over generations would reshape South Florida and U.S. immigration detention policies, with a brain drain also flowing into New York, Canada, and most recently, Brazil, Chile and Mexico.
—
Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2025
Emotional scenes as Palestinian prisoners are released The Israeli prison service confirmed Saturday that 200 Palestinian prisoners had been released from detention facilities as part of the ceasefire and hostage release deal.
—Sophie Tanno, CNN, 25 Jan. 2025
Between October 2023 and September 2024, ICE officers had a daily average arrest rate of 310 and a detention rate of 409.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 25 Jan. 2025
Inspectors often find that local detention officers failed to make timely checks on inmates who died.
—Ryan Oehrli, Charlotte Observer, 24 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for detention 
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Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2025
Emotional scenes as Palestinian prisoners are released The Israeli prison service confirmed Saturday that 200 Palestinian prisoners had been released from detention facilities as part of the ceasefire and hostage release deal.
—Sophie Tanno, CNN, 25 Jan. 2025
Between October 2023 and September 2024, ICE officers had a daily average arrest rate of 310 and a detention rate of 409.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 25 Jan. 2025
Inspectors often find that local detention officers failed to make timely checks on inmates who died.
—Ryan Oehrli, Charlotte Observer, 24 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for detention
Dictionary Entries Near detention
Cite this Entry
“Detention.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detention. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
detention
noun
de·ten·tion
di-ˈten-chən
: the act of detaining : the state of being detained: as
a
: temporary custody before a trial
b
: the punishment of being kept in after school
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