Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

juvenile detention center

American  
[joo-vuh-nl di-ten-shuhn sen-ter, ‐-nahyl] / ˈdʒu və nl dɪˈtɛn ʃən ˌsɛn tər, ‐ˌnaɪl /

noun

  1. a correctional facility for juvenile offenders or delinquents, often under the supervision of a juvenile court.


Etymology

Origin of juvenile 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.

The prison, run by Wackenhut Corrections Corporation—a precursor of GEO—was a 276-bed juvenile detention center called the Jena Juvenile Justice Center.

From Slate • Jun. 19, 2025

She spent time in a juvenile detention center.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2025

Police took him to the county’s juvenile detention center.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 4, 2024

The girl is being held in Guyana's juvenile detention center and the charges against her were formalized during a virtual hearing in Magistrate's Court.

From Reuters • May 29, 2023

It was one step away from a real juvenile detention center.

From "X: A Novel" by Ilyasah Shabazz

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "juvenile detention center" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com