detainment

American  

[dih-teyn-muhnt] / dɪˈteɪn mənt /

noun

1. the condition of being under restraint or in custody; imprisonment.

   Participants also risk arrest and possible detainment in an already overflowing jail.

2. the condition of being delayed or kept from proceeding.

   We were finally allowed to cross the border after six hours of detainment.

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Etymology

Origin of detainment

detain ( def. ) + -ment ( def. )

Example Sentences

James Bulger’s family had no involvement in – or knowledge of – Detainment, which is not an exploitative film but undeniably provoked anguish for the family.

From The Guardian • Mar. 17, 2019

That’s certainly true of the director of the Oscar-nominated Irish short film Detainment, Vincent Lambe.

From The Guardian • Feb. 24, 2019

First, there was the Oscar nomination last month for the short film "Detainment," based on the infamous murder of James Bulger.

From Salon • Feb. 2, 2019

I. Of the reason of our going to Ceylon, and Detainment there.

From An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon in the East Indies Together with an Account of the Detaining in Captivity the Author and Divers other Englishmen Now Living There, and of the Author's Miraculous Escape by Knox, Robert

After which he will give you a full account of the Reason of his own Going to, and Detainment in the Island of Ceylon, and Kingdom of Conde-Uda.

From An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon in the East Indies Together with an Account of the Detaining in Captivity the Author and Divers other Englishmen Now Living There, and of the Author's Miraculous Escape by Knox, Robert