retention
rih-TEHN-shuhn
Retention (noun) means the ability to hold onto or remember information. Example: “Repetition improves retention when studying new vocabulary.”
noun
1
The ability to hold onto or remember information.
"Repetition improves retention when studying new vocabulary."
"Short quizzes help with the retention of what you learn in class."
"Her retention of names is remarkable; she never forgets a face."
2
The keeping of employees, customers, or something else that might otherwise be lost.
"The company launched a bonus scheme to boost staff retention."
"The shop focuses on customer retention by rewarding regular visitors."
"Good pay and friendly managers helped the hospital's retention of nurses."
3
A build-up of fluid in the body that isn't being properly released.
"She was diagnosed with water retention during her pregnancy."
"The doctor said the swelling in his ankles was caused by fluid retention."
"Eating less salt can reduce water retention in the legs."
How to use retention
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHolding onto something — knowledge, people, or, medically, fluid in the body.
Common pairings
water retention
staff retention
data retention
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Word forms
- Plural
- retentions
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Repetition improves _____ when studying new vocabulary.
Etymology
From Middle English retencioun, borrowed from Latin retentiō, retentiōnis, from retentus, the perfect passive participle of retineō (“retain”) (from re- (“back, again”) + teneō (“hold, keep”)).
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for retention
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for retention →
Frequently asked questions
What does “retention” mean?
The word “retention” means the ability to hold onto or remember information. In plain terms, holding onto something — knowledge, people, or, medically, fluid in the body.
How do you pronounce “retention”?
“Retention” is pronounced rih-TEHN-shuhn (/ɹɪˈtɛnʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “retention” in a sentence?
Here is “retention” used in a sentence: “Repetition improves retention when studying new vocabulary.”
What part of speech is “retention”?
“Retention” is a noun.
Is “retention” a common word?
“Retention” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “retention” have?
“Retention” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the ability to hold onto or remember information.
What is the difference between retention and memory?
Retention refers to the ability to hold onto or remember information over time, while memory is the broader mental faculty that includes storing, retaining, and recalling information. Retention is essentially one function within the larger system of memory.
What is water retention?
Water retention, also called fluid retention, is a build-up of fluid in the body that isn't being properly released, often causing swelling. It reflects the medical sense of retention as something being held in the body rather than expelled.
What does employee retention mean in business?
Employee retention refers to a company's ability to keep its staff rather than losing them to other jobs, matching the general sense of retention as the keeping of employees, customers, or something else that might otherwise be lost. High retention usually signals good workplace satisfaction, while low retention signals turnover problems.
