detention camp

noun

1. a compound where prisoners are detained temporarily, as pending determination of their legal status under immigration laws.

Word History and Origins

Origin of detention camp¹

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

The chief’s enemies accused him of being part of al-Qaeda, so he was arrested and put in a detention camp, along with Ahmad and others in his entourage.

From Washington Post

A very complicated ethical debate has arisen from the mess that is the Guantánamo Bay detention camp.

From The Daily Beast

From the western Tibetan town of Ngari, I was taken to Lhasa, where I was thrown into a detention camp.

From The Daily Beast

Remember that January 22, 2010, deadline President Obama set for closing the detention camp at Guantanamo Bay?

From The Daily Beast

Dan Rather interviews Lakhdar Boumediene, a man who spent nearly seven years in the U.S. detention camp at Guantánamo Bay.

From The Daily Beast

But York was assigned to the command of his prisoners, to carry them back to a detention camp.

From Project Gutenberg

On the way to the detention camp the column was shelled by German guns from one of the hilltops.

From Project Gutenberg

And suddenly I saw the letter about the Jewish detention camp, which I had forgotten all about.

From Project Gutenberg

Of course, everything I knew about the Jewish detention camp I had written in my letter.

From Project Gutenberg

Nov. 7—Conspicuous insignia removed from officers; British civilians sent to detention camp.

From Project Gutenberg