detachment

American  

[dih-tach-muhnt] / dɪˈtætʃ mənt /

noun

1. the act of detaching.

2. the condition of being detached.

3. aloofness, as from worldly affairs or from the concerns of others.

   Synonyms:

   unconcern, indifference, coolness

4. freedom from prejudice or partiality.

5. the act of sending out a detached force of troops or naval ships.

6. the body of troops or ships so detached.

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detachment British  

/ dɪˈtætʃmənt /

noun

1. indifference to other people or to one's surroundings; aloofness

2. freedom from self-interest or bias; disinterest

3. the act of disengaging or separating something

4. the condition of being disengaged or separated; disconnection

5. military

   1. the separation of a small unit from its main body, esp of ships or troops

   2. the unit so detached

6. a branch office of a police force

7. logic the rule whereby the consequent of a true conditional statement, given the truth of its antecedent, may be asserted on its own See also modus ponens

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Other Word Forms

• nondetachment
  noun
• predetachment
  noun

Etymology

Origin of detachment

From the French word détachement, dating back to 1660–70. See detach, -ment

Explanation

A state of being distant or standoffish is detachment. Your detachment might mean that you don't cry on the last day of school with all your friends — you're just not that emotionally involved. When you have a sense of detachment from your surroundings, you're a bit aloof or apart, especially in an emotional way. A more physical kind of detachment is an actual coming apart, when something breaks or separates: "The detachment of the wall and the baseboard made it hard to paint the kitchen." Finally, there is a military meaning of detachment — a unit or group of soldiers sent on a separate mission.

Example Sentences

Detachment from the dollar-centric financial system could be one reason for the gain.

From Barron's • Oct. 17, 2025

On board the plane were 12 paratroopers with the 11th Airborne Division, five soldiers in a Counter-intelligence Detachment assigned to the paratroopers, 10 Japanese-American linguists in the Military Intelligence Service and four crew members.

From Seattle Times • May 10, 2024

I think of your role as a substitute teacher in "Detachment," as well as, of course, your work in "The Pianist," among other films.

From Salon • Jan. 28, 2022

In late 1943 Mr. Poitier lied about his age and enlisted in the Army, becoming an orderly with the 1267th Medical Detachment at a veterans hospital on Long Island.

From New York Times • Jan. 7, 2022

This first group of MK soldiers was christened the Luthuli Detachment and they were the spearhead of the armed struggle.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Related Words

• indifference
• neutrality
• objectivity
• remoteness