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Synonyms

detention center

American  
[dih-ten-shuhn sen-ter] / dɪˈtɛn ʃən ˌsɛn tər /

noun

  1. a facility maintained by the civil authorities for persons charged with a crime, immigrants awaiting deportation rulings, or sometimes witnesses before a trial.

  2. juvenile detention center.


Etymology

Origin of detention center

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"Our priority is to get her out of this detention center and repatriate her to France. Given her health, she won't last a month in such conditions of detention," he said.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

It also includes a massive detention center to be built in New Hampshire that can hold tens of thousands of detainees.

From Salon • Mar. 31, 2026

Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which plans to convert it into a detention center for immigrants awaiting deportation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

The shelter’s oldest resident is an 83-year-old who spent most of his life working in Florida before he was picked up and sent to a detention center known as “Alligator Alcatraz.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 21, 2026

What would my pen pals say if I told them that I am standing at a detention center because I went to open my postbox for their letters?

From "Tasting the Sky" by Ibtisam Barakat