noun
Common
detention
dih-TEHNSHN
Detention (noun) means the state of being held in official custody, especially while awaiting trial. Example: “The suspect remained in detention while police gathered more evidence.”
noun
1
The state of being held in official custody, especially while awaiting trial.
"The suspect remained in detention while police gathered more evidence."
"Human rights groups criticised the long detention of people who had not been charged."
"He was held in detention for two months before the hearing."
2
A school punishment requiring a student to stay behind after hours.
"Tom has detention on Thursday because he forgot his homework again."
"Our teacher gave the whole class detention after the noisy lesson."
"She got detention for talking back to the teacher."
How to use detention
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBeing held back, either in custody as an adult or as a school punishment.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
in detention
detention centre
get detention
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Word forms
- Plural
- detentions
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The suspect remained in _____ while police gathered more evidence.
Etymology
From Latin detentio, from detinere, "to hold back".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for detention
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for detention →
Frequently asked questions
What does “detention” mean?
The word “detention” means the state of being held in official custody, especially while awaiting trial. In plain terms, being held back, either in custody as an adult or as a school punishment.
How do you pronounce “detention”?
“Detention” is pronounced dih-TEHNSHN (/dɪˈtɛnʃn̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “detention” in a sentence?
Here is “detention” used in a sentence: “He was held in detention for two months before the hearing.”
What part of speech is “detention”?
“Detention” is a noun.
Where does the word “detention” come from?
The word “detention” comes from Latin. From Latin detentio, from detinere, "to hold back".
Is “detention” a common word?
“Detention” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “detention” have?
“Detention” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the state of being held in official custody, especially while awaiting trial.
What is the difference between 'detention' and 'arrest'?
Arrest is the act of seizing and taking someone into custody, usually by police, while detention is the ongoing state of being held in official custody, often while awaiting trial. An arrest begins the process, and detention is the condition that may follow.
What is the difference between 'detention' and 'imprisonment'?
Detention usually refers to being held in custody before or without a conviction, such as while awaiting trial. Imprisonment refers to being confined as a punishment after being found guilty, so detention can be temporary and precautionary whereas imprisonment follows a sentence.
What is the difference between 'detention' and 'suspension' at school?
Detention requires a student to stay behind after hours as a punishment while still attending school normally. Suspension bars the student from attending school for a set period, making detention a minor, in-school penalty and suspension a temporary removal.
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