detention
noun
de·ten·tion
di-ˈten-chən 
1
: the act or fact of detaining or holding back
especially
: a holding in custody
2
: the state of being detained
especially
: a period of temporary custody prior to disposition by a court
Examples of detention in a Sentence
the detention of suspected terrorists
The jail is only used for brief detentions.
They both got three detentions this year.
He got detention for being late to class.
Recent Examples on the Web
During his detention, Peter Reynolds was suffering from two eye infections and intermittent tremors in his head and left arm, raising serious concerns.
—
Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2025
Along the way, the recruits will be captured aboard a Star Destroyer, break out of a First Order detention cell, elude the clutches of Kylo Ren and escape back to a secret base on Batuu.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
During his first court appearance Friday afternoon at the Clark Child and Family Justice Center, the judge found there was probable cause for the arrest on the charges and ordered that the suspect be released on electronic home detention, according to court filings.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2025
Immigration arrests rose statewide throughout the summer and increasingly have resulted in detentions of people with no prior criminal convictions, The Denver Post reported recently.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detention
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Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2025
Along the way, the recruits will be captured aboard a Star Destroyer, break out of a First Order detention cell, elude the clutches of Kylo Ren and escape back to a secret base on Batuu.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
During his first court appearance Friday afternoon at the Clark Child and Family Justice Center, the judge found there was probable cause for the arrest on the charges and ordered that the suspect be released on electronic home detention, according to court filings.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2025
Immigration arrests rose statewide throughout the summer and increasingly have resulted in detentions of people with no prior criminal convictions, The Denver Post reported recently.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detention
Cite this Entry
“Detention.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detention. Accessed 24 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
detention
noun
de·ten·tion
di-ˈten-chən
: the act of detaining : the state of being detained: as
a
: temporary custody before a trial
b
: the punishment of being kept in after school
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