retention

noun

re·​ten·​tion ri-ˈten(t)-shən 

1

a

: the act of retaining : the state of being retained

b

: abnormal retaining of a fluid or secretion in a body cavity

2

a

: power of retaining : retentiveness

b

: an ability to retain things in mind

specifically : a preservation of the aftereffects of experience and learning that makes recall or recognition possible

3

: something retained

Examples of retention in a Sentence

the recruitment and retention of good employees

the retention of profits from all sales

pills to offset water retention

the retention of things learned in school

They say the herb promotes memory retention.

Recent Examples on the Web

Please do thank the poll workers, A recent USA TODAY story showed that threats to poll workers resulting from the 2020 election have hampered recruitment and retention efforts in communities across America. —David Plazas, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024

For example, modern tech like AWS Lambda, which supports multiple languages in one project, can help ease hiring and retention. —Siddharth Gawshinde, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024

But there isn't a trucker shortage; there's a retention crisis, the result of plummeting wages that can be traced back to the deregulation of the business, brought to us by another Democrat, Jimmy Carter, and his Motor Carrier Act of 1980. —Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024

At other community partner schools in Florida, teacher retention and parental engagement have increased while chronic absenteeism has decreased, Cherfrere said. —Steven Walker, Orlando Sentinel, 19 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English retencioun, from Anglo-French, from Latin retention-, retentio, from retinēre to retain — more at retain

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

retention

noun

re·​ten·​tion ri-ˈten-chən 

1

: the act of retaining : the state of being retained

2

: power of retaining

3

: something retained

Medical Definition

retention

noun

re·​ten·​tion ri-ˈten-chən 

1

: the act of retaining: as

a

: abnormal retaining of a fluid or secretion in a body cavity

retention of urine

retention of bile

b

: the holding in place of a tooth or dental replacement by means of a retainer

2

: a preservation of the aftereffects of experience and learning that makes recall or recognition possible

Legal Definition

retention

noun

re·​ten·​tion ri-ˈten-chən 

1

: the act of retaining or the state of being retained

2

: the portion of the insurance on a particular risk not reinsured or ceded by the originating insurer