detainee

[dih-tey-nee, dee-tey-nee]

noun

1. a person held in custody, especially for a political offense or for questioning.

Word History and Origins

Origin of detainee¹

First recorded in 1925–30; detain + -ee

Example Sentences

Almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees were released as part of the 20-point peace plan, touted by the US president as the end of the two-year war.

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The 20 remaining living hostages were released by the Palestinian armed group on Monday in exchange for almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees in Israeli jails.

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The announcement comes more than a month after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said a deal to exchange French detainees for an Iranian woman held in France was nearly complete.

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Only 24 hours after Israelis and Palestinians, for very different reasons, shared joy and relief that hostages, prisoners and detainees were home, cracks are appearing in the ceasefire.

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On Monday 20 living Israeli hostages and hundreds of Palestinian detainees were reunited with their families as part of a ceasefire deal.

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Related Words

• hostage 
• prisoner 
• prisoner of war 
• slave