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

Reading the astonishingly vicious responses directed at me, I felt something like detachment.

From Salon

“It’s a buffer against the loneliness and detachment so many kids feel today.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Instrument Serif’s designers have watched its spread with detachment.

From The Wall Street Journal

Romania, the lawmakers noted, is a reliable ally that has hosted a U.S. missile defense detachment since 2016.

From The Wall Street Journal

This change in mind-set fits within a broader cultural arc that includes the “Buddha-like” attitude and the “lying flat” movement—rejections of relentless competition in favor of detachment.

From Barron's

Related Words

• indifference
• neutrality
• objectivity
• remoteness