detachment

American  

[dih-tach-muhnt] / dɪˈtætʃ mənt /

noun

1. the act of detaching.

2. the condition of being detached. 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 detached force of troops or naval ships.

6. the body of troops or ships so detached. 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

Example Sentences

He encourages her to stop hiding behind her Stoic detachment and let more of the world in.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

Then it could be time for detachment and noncontact.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 3, 2026

“Do they really know what degradation looks like? Have they smelled what a landfill smells like? There’s such a detachment between intent and actuality,” she says.

From Slate • Jan. 26, 2026

Retinal detachment occurs when the thin layer at the back of the eye - the retina - becomes loose.

From BBC • Jan. 12, 2026

The half-men surveyed the dock workers with a calm detachment so much like Tool that they could have been brothers.

From "Ship Breaker" by Paolo Bacigalupi

Related Words

• indifference
• neutrality
• objectivity
• remoteness