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detention Definition

de·ten·tion (dē ten′s̸hən, di-)

noun

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

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

detention Synonyms

detention

n.

  1. Enforced delay

    retention, hindrance, detainment; see arrest 2, delay 1, impediment 1.

  2. Restraint

    custody, internment, quarantine; see arrest 1, confinement 1, restraint 2.

detention Law Definition

n

The act of keeping an individual imprisoned or in custody.
preventive detention
The holding in custody of an accused criminal or mentally ill individual who is deemed to be a threat to him- or herself or to others, or to represent a flight risk.
detention Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • authorize: Section 221 provides for the temporary suspension of the measure in an assessment order which authorizes detention of the patient in hospital.

Adjective modifier

  • indefinite: They claim them equally in breach of the article of the European Convention on Human Rights forbidding indefinite detention without trial.
  • 90-day: Too long, it turns out, for the 49 Labor MPs who defeated the government on its plans for 90-day detention.
  • incommunicado: After a week in incommunicado detention he was taken to the airport and summarily expelled from the country to Belgium on 15 June.
  • preventive: A person who has been sentenced to preventive detention or imprisonment for three years or more will be prohibited for life.
  • preventative: Once the matter becomes one of preventative detention, an alarming slippery slope looms.

Modifies a noun

  • curfew: Is s/he able to claim if they are released on home detention curfew or in a probation hostel?
  • center: They set up three mass detention centers where arrested protesters would be taken.
  • center: There are now plans for a national day of action at detention centers across the UK during June's Refugee Week.
  • camp: There have been numerous suicide attempts in the detention camp.
  • certificate: A short term detention certificate may only be granted by an approved medical practitioner.

Noun used with modifier

  • pre-charge: The Police were heavily involved in arguing for a 90-day pre-charge detention period.
  • pre-deportation: Again, however, rather than being set free, he was taken into pre-deportation detention.
  • immigration: Over 2,200 people - says the exhibition's leaflet - are locked up in immigration detention in the UK at any one time.

Preposition: without

  • trial: The problem, of course, arises from the Home Secretary's powers of detention without trial.

Preposition: in

  • custody: This followed a raid on his home and detention in custody.

Preposition: of

  • suspect: Thousands are in jail in these two countries under new laws which allow the arrest and detention of any suspect without trial.
  • seeker: An absolute maximum duration for the detention of asylum seekers should be specified in national law.
  • detainee: Unlawful arrests, torture and the long-term isolated detention of detainees - including children - are " routine " , Human Rights Watch says.