detachment

noun

de·​tach·​ment di-ˈtach-mənt How to pronounce detachment (audio)
dē-
Synonyms of detachmentnext
1
: the action or process of detaching : separation
2
a
: the dispatch of a body of troops or part of a fleet from the main body for a special mission or service
b
: the part so dispatched
c
: a permanently organized separate unit usually smaller than a platoon and of special composition
3
a
: indifference to worldly concerns : aloofness
b
: freedom from bias or prejudice

Examples of detachment in a Sentence

I wish the article had approached the issue with a bit more detachment. The form is perforated to make detachment of the bottom section easier. A detachment of soldiers was called to assist the police.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Journalism, my beloved profession, still clings to the virtues of distance and detachment. Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026 Annaka Harris explores what happens when […] Stoicism has been flattened into slogans about toughness, detachment, and emotional silence, a version that’s easy to sell, but mostly wrong. Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026 The coach who turned detachment into a competitive advantage is now the one waiting for the call, proof that in football, no one is entirely immune to the snub. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 28 Jan. 2026 Gildenman was given his own detachment to command, which became known as Uncle Misha’s Jewish Group. Liz Rothaus Bertrand, Charlotte Observer, 27 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for detachment

Word History

First Known Use

1671, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of detachment was in 1671

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Detachment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detachment. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

detachment

noun
de·​tach·​ment di-ˈtach-mənt How to pronounce detachment (audio)
1
: the action or process of detaching : separation
2
a
: the sending out of a body of troops or part of a fleet from the main body
b
: a small military unit with a special task or function
3
a
: a lack of interest in worldly concerns
b
: freedom from the influence of emotions : impartiality

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