Dictionary

detention en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /dɪˈtɛnʃn̩/
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French détention, from Latin detentio, detentionem. Equivalent to detain + -tion.

Meanings

1. (uncountable) The act of detaining or the state of being detained; hindrance.
   • In the case of rail-borne traffic, permission is given to each sender to load and forward his traffic so that it will be available for loading into the vessel with a minimum of detention to wagons, unless arrangements have been made for the traffic to be put into store to await the arrival of the ship. 1945 January and February, T. F. Cameron, “Dock Working”, in Railway Magazine, page 12:
   • "[…] On the 18th of October, 1841, a very intense magnetic disturbance was recorded, and amongst other curious facts mentioned is that of the detention of the 10:05pm express train at Exeter for 16 minutes, as from the magnetic disturbance affecting the needles so powerfully, it was impossible to ascertain if the line was clear at Starcross. The superintendent at Exeter reported the next morning that someone was playing tricks with the instruments, and would not let them work." 2023 November 15, Prof. Jim Wild, “This train was delayed because of bad weather in space”, in RAIL, number 996, page 30:
   • Detain not the wages of the hireling: for every degree of detention of it beyond the time is injuſtice, and uncharitableneſs, and grindes his face til tears and blood come out: […] 1651, Jer[emy] Taylor, “Of Christian Justice”, in The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Francis Ashe […], →OCLC, section III (Of Negotiation, or Civil Contracts), page 208:
2. (countable, uncountable) A temporary state of custody or confinement. ▸ Confinement of a prisoner awaiting trial.
3. (countable, uncountable) A temporary state of custody or confinement. ▸ A punishment given to a student for a minor infraction, typically requiring the student to report to a designated room during recess or outside of school hours to work on homework or perform busywork.
   • be stuck in detention
   • Now, for slacking off in class and for having a serious attitude problem, your punishment is two weeks in detention, with me, starting this afternoon. 1985, Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale, Back to the Future, spoken by Mr. Strickland:
4. (countable, qualifier:civil law, uncountable) The bare physical control without the mental element of intention required for possession.

Forms

Deriveds

detention home · redetention · detention centre · detention officer · detention basin · detention pond · nondetention · detention center · predetention · detention warrant · detention cell · mandatory detention · detention time · house of detention

Relateds

detain

Synonyms

DT · impediment · DT · jug · retardation · delay · hindrance · jug

Translations (67)

es mera tenencia (holding in one's control with no intention to possess) · sv innehav (holding in one's control with no intention to possess) · ru аре́ст (custody of a prisoner awaiting trial) · es detención (punishment given to a student for a minor infraction) · bg арестува́не (act or state) · fr détention (act or state) · cmn 拘留 (act or state) · sw kizuizini (punishment given to a student for a minor infraction) · ru оставле́ние (punishment given to a student for a minor infraction) · mi mauheretanga (act or state) · ar تَوْقِيف (custody of a prisoner awaiting trial) · sv häktning (custody of a prisoner awaiting trial) · nb fengsling (act or state) · fi jälki-istunto (punishment given to a student for a minor infraction) · fr détention (holding in one's control with no intention to possess) · cs zadržení (custody of a prisoner awaiting trial) · oc detencion (act or state) · ru задержа́ние (act or state) · id penahanan (act or state) · cs vazba (custody of a prisoner awaiting trial) · sv kvarsittning (punishment given to a student for a minor infraction) · vi sự giam cầm (custody of a prisoner awaiting trial) · fr retenue (punishment given to a student for a minor infraction) · ja 拘留 (act or state) · es detención (custody of a prisoner awaiting trial) · vi sự cầm tù (custody of a prisoner awaiting trial) · pt detenção (holding in one's control with no intention to possess) · pl dzierżenie (holding in one's control with no intention to possess) · de Detention (holding in one's control with no intention to possess) · fi pidättäminen (act or state) · de Haft (act or state) · ja 拘置 (act or state) · mi mauheretanga (custody of a prisoner awaiting trial) · fi hallussapito (holding in one's control with no intention to possess) · lt sulaikymas (custody of a prisoner awaiting trial) · da eftersidning (punishment given to a student for a minor infraction) · ko 억류 (act or state) · fi tutkintavankeus (custody of a prisoner awaiting trial) · da anholdelse (custody of a prisoner awaiting trial) · no gjensitting (punishment given to a student for a minor infraction) · de Innehabung (holding in one's control with no intention to possess) · vi sự cấm túc (punishment given to a student for a minor infraction) · de Nachsitzen (punishment given to a student for a minor infraction) · da tilbageholdelse (act or state) · cmn 留校察看 (punishment given to a student for a minor infraction) · ja 抑留 (act or state) · uk затримання (act or state) · vi sự giam giữ (custody of a prisoner awaiting trial) · nl houderschap (holding in one's control with no intention to possess) · ru аре́ст (act or state) · tr cezaya kalma (punishment given to a student for a minor infraction) · sw kizuizini (custody of a prisoner awaiting trial) · nl detentie (holding in one's control with no intention to possess) · sw kizuizini (act or state) · ga coinneáil (act or state) · bg задържа́не (act or state) · fr arrestation (act or state) · it detenzione (holding in one's control with no intention to possess) · fi pidätys (act or state) · de Gewahrsam (act or state) · pl detencja (act or state) · cmn 扣押 (act or state) · nn fengsling (act or state) · ko 구류 (act or state) · tl pagkabinbin (act or state) · lt areštas (custody of a prisoner awaiting trial) · ru содержа́ние под стра́жей (custody of a prisoner awaiting trial)