detention

Detention is defined as the state of being confined or delayed somewhere, or kept after school for punishment.

(noun)

When you are locked up in prison for a short period of time as punishment, this is an example of detention.
When you are made to stay after school because you did something wrong, this is an example of detention.

See detention in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

a detaining or being detained; specif.,
1. a keeping in custody; confinement
2. an enforced delay
a form of punishment in which a student is required to stay after school

Origin: ME detencioun < OFr detention < L detentio < detentus, pp. of detinere: see detain

See detention in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

The act of detaining.
The state or a period of being detained, especially:
a. A period of temporary custody while awaiting trial.
b. A period of confinement to a detention home.
c. A form of punishment by which a student is made to stay after regular school hours.
A forced or punitive delay.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English detencioun, act of withholding

Origin: , from Anglo-Norman

Origin: , from Latin dētentiō, dētentiōn-

Origin: , from dētentus

Origin: , past participle of dētinēre, to detain; see detain

Learn more about detention

detention synonyms

detention legal definition

detention in a sentence

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