detention

American  

[dih-ten-shuhn] / dɪˈtɛn ʃən /

noun

• detentions
  plural

1. the act of detaining.

2. the state of being detained.

3. maintenance of a person in custody or confinement, especially while awaiting a court decision.

4. the withholding of what belongs to or is claimed by another.

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adjective

1. of or relating to detention or used to detain.

   the detention room of a police station.

detention British  

/ dɪˈtɛnʃən /

noun

1. the act of detaining or state of being detained

2. 1. custody or confinement, esp of a suspect awaiting trial

   2. ( as modifier )

      a detention order

3. a form of punishment in which a pupil is detained after school

4. the withholding of something belonging to or claimed by another

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nondetention
  noun
• predetention
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• detentions
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of detention

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin dētentiōn- (stem of dētentiō ), equivalent to dētent ( us ) detained (past participle of dētinēre; see detain) + -iōn- -ion

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Explanation

Detention is a word for confinement or imprisonment, usually for a short time. It's also a punishment where children must stay after school. If you're in detention, you probably did something wrong: you're being confined against your will. The police hold people in detention, and so do military forces. Usually, detention is a short period of confinement, like if someone is arrested and then released. Also, the word is commonly used for an after-school punishment for children who have to stay in detention instead of going home. One thing is true of both kinds of detention: no one wants to be there.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

detention detentions

Wong's friends told AFP earlier this year that the activist remained "energetic" while in detention by working out, playing the guitar and studying university courses.

From Barron's ● Nov. 3, 2026

“They’re leaving people without their family, basically, and then some of the people are even dying in there,” she said of immigration detention.

From Salon ● Nov. 2, 2026

A spokesperson pointed to his lawsuit challenging the Trump administration over access to immigrant detention centers as well as his advocacy for tenant protections and affordable housing.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2026

And even if they could work, or drive, or leave the house, there was fear of getting picked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, sent to detention centers, and deported to Haiti.

From Slate ● Oct. 26, 2026

The school detention room is in the basement, next to the boiler room.

From "The Skin I'm In" by Sharon G. Flake

Labrador's cousin has also been caught up in the dragnet of ICE detentions.

From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026

Protesters have been undeterred by thousands of reported detentions during demonstrations over the weekend in the capital.

From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026

It also underscores how U.S. ties with China are fraying over detentions, trade clashes and geopolitical tensions even as Trump works to curry favor with Xi as a fellow superpower leader.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 13, 2026

The detentions were reported to the US-led International Monitoring and Implementation Mechanism, which oversees security coordination between Israel and Lebanon.

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026

I had a month of detentions and a black mark on my permanent record.

From "Schooled" by Gordon Korman

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Related Words

• arrest
• custody
• delay
• incarceration
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